NTSPP – 064 (Review)

Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 064 (Review)

64 by Anax

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When BD told me Anax had a themed puzzle for number 64, I had visions of another song based puzzle (When I’m 64). Instead we have an excellent puzzle with a mini-theme of notable events / things in 1964.

This review is rather brief as I am not available on Saturday so am preparing this in advance.

Many thanks to Anax for the crossword.

Across

7aBird sees round butt as place for funny shorts (until ’64) (6,5)
{LOONEY TUNES} – These funny shorts are not those worn by Anax on holiday in Italy. They are a series of cartoons whose production ceased in 1964. Take a four letter bird and a word for sees around a three letter word for a butt (or target) to find the answer.

9a Accept evidence of unfinished snooker table? (3)
{NOD} – Groan out loud time. A word meaning that you have accepted something by a movement of the head also suggests that a snooker table had not had the semi-circular line at one end drawn on it.

11a Do over – about time (3)
{ACT} – A word meaning do comes from the Latin abbreviation for about which is reversed followed by an abbreviation for time.

12a Brown welcomes serenades in ’64 new town (11)
{BASINGSTOKE} – This new town established in 1964 comes from a word meaning brown (as may be done in an oven) with a phrase (4,2) meaning serenades inside.

13a Hatch-back one fast driver returned (it wasn’t his!) (4,3)
{HIRE CAR} – A vehicle that is rented comes from the final letter of hatch, and I (one) and a description of a fast driver reversed.

14a Bomb unit, say, boarding coaster – OK? (7)
{MEGATON} – A description of the explosive force of a bomb comes from an abbreviation for say inside a coaster (as may be used on a table) followed a word meaning OK.

16a/17a Leader of House is no Law Lord masquerading as PM in ’64 (6,6)
{HAROLD WILSON} – The Prime Minister in 1964 comes from H (leader of house) and an anagram (masquerading) of IS NO LAW LORD.

19a Furniture store (new in ’64) with hotel rather close by (7)
{HABITAT} – A trendy furniture store established in 1964 comes from an H (hotel) and a phrase (1,3,2) meaning rather close by.

21a Official thing husband finds cool (7)
{REFRESH} – A word meaning cool comes from a three letter word for a match official, a Latin word of three letters for thing and a final H (husband).

23a Indie band playing in a rock institute (11)
{SMITHSONIAN} – This institute (an American one) comes from the name of an indie band, a two letter word meaning playing and an anagram (rock) of IN A.

25a Go downhill and jump with determination? (3)
{SKI} – A word for going downhill on snow comes from a word meaning jump with the final letter removed (determination).

26a Horse and badger (3)
{NAG} – A double definition of a description of a horse and badger (as in pester).

27a Working hard, ideally, folded paper in ’64 (5,6)
{DAILY HERALD} – This newspaper that stopped in 1964 comes from an anagram (working) of HARD IDEALLY.

Down

1d Book extract to make light of? (6)
{BLEACH} – A word meaning to make light of (as may be done with hair) comes from an abbreviation for book followed by a word meaning extract.

2d On border, dig a spectacular new ’64 crossing (5,4,6)
{FORTH ROAD BRIDGE} – A new river crossing opened in 1964 comes from a word meaning on (in the sense of go forward) followed by an anagram (spectacular) of BORDER DIG A.

3d National Organisation of Car-Booters (5-5)
{SERBO CROAT} – This national is an anagram (organisation) of CAR-BOOTERS.

4d My name applied to article about another name I use (6)
{ANONYM} – Another name used for something comes from reversing MY plus an abbreviation for name plus ON (about) plus A (article).

5d River Island’s empty shops? One is opening (4)
{ISIS} – The name of a river comes from an abbreviation for Island and the outer letters of SHOPS with an I (one) inside (opening).

6dFootball club in continual turmoil? Not unusual! (15)
{UNCONTROVERSIAL} – A word meaning not unusual comes from the name of a football team (think Tranmere) inside a anagram (turmoil) of continual.

8d Shocked as suspect keeps dry in scrap (7)
{TASERED} – A word meaning shocked (as in electrocuted by the police) comes from a three letter for for a scrap (as in a bit) around a four letter word meaning dry.

10d Outstanding news on a young woman (6)
{DUENNA} – A name for a young woman comes from a word meaning outstanding (as a debt may be) two abbreviations for new (news) followed by an A.

15d She danced around aging fellow in ’64 Bond film (10)
{GOLDFINGER} – This Bond film released in 1964 comes from the name of a famous dancer (surname Rogers) around a word meaning aged and an abbreviation for fellow.

17d Way outside ring-road, one’s lost, using plenty of gas? (7)
{WORDILY} – A word meaning using plenty of gas (or being prolix) comes from an abbreviation for way around a letter that resembles a ring, an abbreviation for road, an I (one’s) and an abbreviation for lost.

18d 27’s replacement in ’64, but he’s unusually content (3,3)
{THE SUN} – The paper that replaced the one referred to in 27a is hidden inside the phrase “but he’s unusually”.

20d Worthless old bass acquired by Charlie (3-3)
{TWO BIT} – A word meaning worthless comes from a word meaning Charlie (as in an idiot) around abbreviations for old and bass.

22d Barnet prostitute about to expose duke (6)
{HAIRDO} – A word for Barnet (as on the head) comes from a two letter word for a prostitute around a three letter word for expose and an abbreviation for Duke.

24d Leather passport that man carries (4)
{HIDE} – A word describing leather comes from a word for a man inside a word describing what a passport is.