Private Institutions of Higher Education. Hidden in each theme answer is a private American research university.
17-Across. * Where many hockey face-offs happen: CENTER ICE. Rice University is a private research university in Houston, Texas. It was named after William Marsh Rice (Mar. 14, 1816 ~ Sept. 23, 1900). He was a wealthy businessman who bequeath his fortune to found a university. He was murdered by his valet, who had been hired by a third party in an attempt to divert Rice's fortune. It's a fascinating story.
24-Across. * Physical ability acquired via repetition: MUSCLE MEMORY. Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was originally known as the Emory College and is named in honor of John Emory (1789 ~ 1835), who was a bishop in the Methodist Church.
49-Across. * Contest won by the last fighter standing: BATTLE ROYALE. Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the 3rd oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It was named in honor of Elihu Yale (Apr. 5, 1649 ~ July 8, 1721), the school's primary benefactor.
60-Across. * Comics Great Dane: MARMADUKE. Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. The school has had a number of names throughout the years, but is now know as Duke in honor of Washington Duke (Dec. 18, 1820 ~ May 8, 1905).
And the Unifier:
38-Across . Where one might learn etiquette ... or a hint to the answers to starred clues: FINISHING SCHOOL.
Across:
1. 4-Across holder: JAW. // And 4-Across. Chewing need: TEETH.
9. Comes (from): STEMS.
14. Rock in a vein: ORE. A crossword staple.
15. Actress Berry of "X-Men" films: HALLE. Halle Maria Berry (b. Aug. 14, 1966) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles. She will celebrate her 55th birthday this coming Saturday.
16. Easy putt: TAP IN.
19. Kind of acid in proteins: AMINO.
20. Journalist Couric: KATIE. Katie Couric (née Katherine Anne Couric; b. Jan. 7, 1957) has been a news anchor for NBC, ABC and CBS as well as other new-type programs.
21. Spicy: HOT.
23. Work with a needle: SEW.
29. Ready to harvest: RIPE.
32. President after Grant: HAYES. Rutherford Birchard Hayes (Oct. 4, 1822 ~ Jan. 17, 1893) was the 19th President of the United States.
33. Oral health org.: ADA. As in the American Dental Association.
35. Malek of "Bohemian Rhapsody": RAMI. Rami Malek (né Rami Said Malek; b. May 12, 1981) portrayed Freddie Mercury (né Farrokh Bulsara; Sept. 5, 1946 ~ Nov. 24, 1991 ) in the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Rami is on the left.
36. Amtrak express: ACELA. We occasionally see this train in the puzzles.
42. Does' mates: STAGS.
43. Mardi __: GRAS. The next Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
44. Zip: NIL.
45. Paris' __ de la Cité: ÎLE. This is an island in the Seine River that runs through the center of Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral is on this island.
46. Peninsular Persian Gulf land: QATAR.
48. Depend (on): RELY.
52. Authentic ending?: -ITY.
53. Japanese veggie: UDO. Not your usual Tuesday vegetable.
54. Birthday process: LABOR. Ouch!
58. River through Rome: TIBER.
64. Call to mind: EVOKE.
65. Geometry basic: AXIOM. In mathematics, an Axiom is "a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is base." Clear as mud!
66. Cab cousin: ZIN. I am getting tired of these abbreviations for wines: Cabernet and Zinfandel.
67. H.S. health course: SEX ED. Sex Education was very minimal when I was in High School.
68. Old photo tint: SEPIA.
69. British zoo opening?: ZED. In Britian, the last letter of the Alphabet is not Zee, but Zed.
Down:
1. Athletic stereotype: JOCK.
2. Region: AREA.
3. Left: WENT.
4. Brexit target org.: THE EU. As in The European Union.
5. Canal site: EAR.
6. Inventor Whitney: ELI. Eli Whitney, Jr. (Dec. 8, 1765 ~ Jan. 8, 1825) is best known for inventing the Cotton Gin.
7. Attention from Dr. Mom: TLC. As in Tender Loving Care.
8. Lighthearted laugh: HEE-HEE.
9. Hawaii or Alaska: STATE. Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959. Hawaii joined the Union on August 21, 1959.
10. Flat hat: TAM.
11. TV pilot, often: EPISODE ONE.
12. Lotion ingredient: MINERAL OIL.
13. __ owl: SNOWY. They are such beautiful birds.
18. Word with capsule or clock: TIME.
22. Mantra syllables: OMs. We chant Om at the beginning and end of our yoga classes.
25. Former Iranian leader: SHAH. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Oct. 26, 1919 ~ July 27, 1980) was the last Shaw of Iran. He was ousted in the Iranian Revolution in February 1979 and died in exile.
26. Garment with spaghetti straps, for short: CAMI. As in a Camisole, which you can get in Camo.
27. Deceiving: LYING TO.
28. Speed ratio: MACH. Everything you wanted to know about the Mach number, but didn't know to ask. It is named in honor of Ernst Waldfried Josef Wenzel Mach (Feb. 18, 1838 ~ Feb. 19, 1916), a Moravian-born physicist. He was certainly a lot smarter than me!
36. Rm. coolers: ACs. I really need my Air Condition to cool the Rooms in this heat.
37. Friend: ALLY.
39. "Oh, now __ it!": I GET.
40. Ethically uncertain: GRAY. The pandemic turned my hair gray.
41. Lee known for desserts: SARA.
46. Proof-ending letters: QED. Today's Latin lesson. QED is an abbreviation of phrase quod erat demonstrandum, which literally means: What was to be shown.
47. Food court attractions: AROMAS.
48. Audition (for): READ.
49. Nibbles: BITES.
50. Attracted: LURED.
51. Animal name starting with a double letter: LLAMA.
55. Fly sound: BUZZ.
56. Tulsa native, e.g.: OKIE. Tulsa is in Oklahoma, hence and Okie. The term actually has a historical derogatory meaning, as it referred to the migrant worker who was forced to leave Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Kristin Hannah wrote about this migration in her 2021 book, The Four Winds.
