19th-century cartoon of Jack Frost as a United States major-general during the American Civil War. ------------------ Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz Gardena jackpots ("Jacks to open" or simply "Jackpots") is a variation of poker with a single joker in the deck acting as a bug -- the game is named after the city of Gardena, California. With that bit of obscurity (to the non-gambler, at least) in mind, this Tuesday crossword drums up the imaginary presence of JACK at the fore of the first word of four entries -- HAMMER THROW (17A. Olympic track-and-field event); FROST/NIXON (30A. Play and film about a noted 1977 series of interviews); CHEESECLOTH (36A. Loosely woven cotton fabric); RABBIT EARS (44A. Indoor dipole antenna, colloquially), tied with JACKS TO OPEN (60A. Five-card draw variation … or a hint to 17-, 30-, 36- and 44-Across) -- long way to go for a grunt or a chuckle.
Mid-size entries include AMPERE (45D. Current measure); ARIETTA (22D. Short opera piece); ARMAGNAC (3D. Eau de vie from Gascony); ATTAIN (13D. Reach); BOY TOY (46D. Young stud); ET ALIA (21A. Latin list ender); FINITO (12D. Over and done); HIALEAH (2D. Historic racetrack site); HOT WAR (6D. Korean conflict, for one); HOUSE PET (39D. Collar wearer, often); ICHABOD (29D. Washington Irving’s Crane); LAY LOW (20A. Knock to the ground); 11D. “MAALOX moment” (ad catchphrase); MODEL AS (25D. 1903-04 cars sold only in red); NOOSES (57A. Causes of some untimely ends); PRESENT (42D. Roll call response); RANSOM (47D. Money of exchange); ROSTER (44D. Team listing); SPYDOM (54A. World of espionage). Five-letter -- ARNEL (40A. Vintage synthetic fabric); DE-ICE (35A. Make ready for winter flight); DITTY (69A. “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” e.g.); ELENA (66A. Dementieva of tennis); HIRER (14A. Personnel director, at times); HUNAN (6A. Spicy Asian cuisine); LLAMA (24A. Beast in an Ogden Nash poem); MOOED (52D. Made low noises?); 15A. “O SOLE Mio”; OSTEO (65A. Bone: Prefix); PRELL (5D. Green shampoo brand); PSALM (51A. “The Lord is my light and my salvation …,” for one); SCRAM (68A. “Beat it!”); SHACK (33A. Humble abode); SHARP (1A. Like some cheddar); STOPS (41A. Parts of a tour). AIT and ANT, ALOE, ASEC, AURA, CANI, CTR, ENT, ERO, KEA and KERI, MASC, MFA, NAY, NCOS, NEWT, NOR, OJOS, OMOO, PCS, PEG, REMY and REY, ROLF, ROTI, SAX and SEX, SEEP, SHH, SLOT, SOLI, TET, TIL, USH. ------------------- For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. 
Click on image to enlarge. Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.
Remaining clues -- Across: 11. Musician’s deg.; 16. Small island in a river; 19. Toiler on a hill; 23. Simple hanger; 27. Roasted, in Rouen; 28. Childish plea; 49. Subtle glow; 50. Melville work set in Tahiti; 53. Census datum; 59. Lunar New Year in Vietnam; 64. Leandro’s love; 67. Palacio resident. Down: 1. “Zip your lip!”; 4. “Ratatouille rat chef; 7. Escort to a seat, slangily; 8. Fish-fowl connector; 9. Soothing succulent; 10. Small salamander; 18. Massage deeply; 23. Desk toppers; 26. “Just ___!”; 31. No later than, briefly; 32. Cpls. And sgts.; 34. Actress Russell of “Waitress”; 37. “The Lord of the Rings” creature; 38. Ooze; 42. Roll call response; 43. Clarence Clemons’s instrument; 48. ___ machine; 55. Spanish eyes; 56. Opposite of fem.; 58. Star turns in music; 61. Basketball position: Abbr.; 62. Mauna ___; 63. Roll call response.
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