Funny Man Johnson Crosswor Crossword Clue
Wordplay, The CROSSWORD COLUMN
Mentor to a Queen
Scott Earl brings us a Saturday puzzle with panache.
SATURDAY PUZZLE — This is Scott Earl's Saturday debut (after a couple of Times Friday grids) and my first thought while scanning its clue set was, "This is one for the trivia buffs." I stand by that, and freely admit that a lot of the factoids called for today are new to me — generous crosses saved my solve a number of times. I enjoyed all that deduction, though, and relished picking up on some twists that make this puzzle quite witty.
Tricky Clues
I could solve a thousand more Saturday puzzles and still get psyched out by an unfamiliar name at 1A. In this case, I really should have known about Daniel INOUYE, who represented Hawaii in Congress from 1959 until 2012. I think most of the other name trivia is doable, and it is nice to see EDIE Windsor in a June puzzle. I loved the paired puns (ET TU? YEAH, SAME), the small puns (ESP, HOE) and the small, subversive pun (CIA). There are also seven sparkling debuts and a number of rarities, like DRAGON EGG.
14A. East Coasters may only be aware of "the burger chain In-N-Out" because of its mythical SECRET MENU, which is partly public, at least, when you consult the restaurant's website. I haven't eaten at In-N-Out as an adult, but the lore around its clandestine offerings is quite alluring.
28A. I took "Museum pieces you might find to be moving?" to be wordplay for emotional — "moving" one to tears — but this is actually a reference to OP ART, which is based on optical illusions that trick the eye into detecting twisting and turning motions.
33A. I got a kick out of this entry: A "Mentor to a queen" is a debut, although the term DRAG MOTHER has been in use since at least the 1970s, when matriarchal "houses" competed in drag balls. In his notes, Mr. Earl refers to Marsha P. Johnson, who herself served as a DRAG MOTHER in New York City starting in the 1960s. A commemorative bust of her was placed in Christopher Park last year (and is now on loan for the summer to The Center, a nearby L.G.B.T.Q. community center).
2D. The "onetime candy maker based in Revere, Mass.," is NECCO, the New England Confectionery Company, once the producer of Necco wafers and those chalky candy hearts. I associate Necco wafers with Catholic communion, which made "Revere" an oddly appropriate hometown. (People seem to historically practice communion with these sugary little disks. They also use them for poker chips and to get through tollbooths, in a pinch.)
13D. Everyone who can place "the Volstead Act" in the annals of American history will know what it refers to: the establishment of Prohibition and the subsequent creation of 48 DRY STATES, until the 21st Amendment passed in 1933.
15D. If you frequent these parts, you know this classic "sketch comedy from the 1970s-'80s," although you might have to run through a few options before you come to the MUPPET SHOW. Wordplay is contractually obligated to refer to muppets whenever possible, like when "Mahna Mahna" is an entry, or "mime" or Rita "Moreno."
Constructor Notes
Hey y'all! Glad to be back … and on a Saturday this time! I write puzzles with the goal of a Friday's breeziness in mind, so was surprised to see this slotted for the tougher day. Then again, every puzzle seems easier when you create all the answers. The editing team did a great job adding extra trickery to some clues — I hope it allowed for some "aha moments" that make Saturday puzzles so enjoyable.
This puzzle began with the NAME SIGN/DRAG MOTHER combination. American Sign Language was my favorite subject in college (thanks, Professor O'Donnell!) and I'm lucky to live in a city with great local drag performers. As an avid runner and a Survivor superfan, it's always fun to leave my personal touch on some clues, as well.
Happy Pride month, with special gratitude for trailblazers like Edie Windsor and Marsha P. Johnson, just to name a couple.
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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2022-06-04.html
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