SUNDAY, June 6, 2010 — Jim Page (syndicated)

Theme: "Taketh Away" — The letter string TH is removed from familiar phrases. Wackiness ensues.

[Note: This is the syndicated L.A. Times puzzle. It does not appear in the actual newspaper, but is available for free at cruciverb.com.]


Theme answers:

• 35A: Display a casual shirt? (SHOW ONE'S TEE[th]).
• 53A: One who sings during meals? (MUSICAL [th]EATER).
• 60A: Where to buy "Splitting Up For Dummies"? ([th]RIFT STORE).
• 74A: Reaction to a New Year's Day birth? (JANUARY [th]AW).
• 85A: Salamander coverage? ([th]EFT INSURANCE).
• 97A: Defy a parent? (CROSS ONE'S PA[th]).
• 109A: Corn that may or may not be eaten? (EAR[th] IN THE BALANCE).
• 27A: Reason for a burglar to take aspirin? ([th]ROBBING HEADACHE).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 21A: Jazz giant, familiarly (ELLA).
• 33A: Cassis cocktail (KIR).
• 51A: Israeli arms (UZIS).
• 71A: Hi-__ graphics (RES).
• 92A: Seaside bird (ERN).
• 1D: Actor Epps (OMAR).
• 10D: Island off Tuscany (ELBA).
• 48D: Floral perfume (ATTAR).
• 50D: Some Deco works (ERTÉS).
• 76D: Bridal page word (NÉE).
• 80D: Swiss river (AAR).
• 94D: Like the lama, but not the llama, in a Nash poem (ONE-L).
• 99D: Giraffe cousins (OKAPIS).

Everything Else — 1A: GM line until 2004 (OLDS); 5A: "You're making __ mistake!" (A BIG); 9A: Coming-out parties (DEBS); 13A: Value (ESTEEM); 19A: Mariner or Mountaineer, briefly (MERC); 20A: Moon over Milano (LUNA); 22A: Annoyingly small (MEASLY); 23A: Lago filler (AGUA); 24A: Animated bug film (ANTZ); 25A: Cyberseller's site (EBAY); 26A: Like some champagne glasses (FLUTED); 31A: Joe Louis, e.g. (ARENA); 32A: "Gigi" author (COLETTE); 34A: "Bummer" ("SO SAD"); 39A: Checkup responses (AHS); 41A: What Forum addresses were in (LATIN); 42A: Mr. __!: old detective game (REE); 43A: Log opening (EPI-); 46A: Prepare pupils for an exam? (DILATE); 52A: Mama bear: Span. (OSA); 56A: "Me, __ & Irene": 2000 film (MYSELF); 58A: Noshed (SNACKED); 59A: "Take __ face value" (IT AT); 63A: Legal precedent (TEST CASE); 66A: Texter's "Lordy!" (OMG); 69A: Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Dandy" role (COHAN); 70A: '60s activist Bobby (SEALE); 72A: Trip acquisition (SOUVENIR); 78A: "Assuming that ..." ("IF SO …"); 79A: Net income earner? (E-TAILER); 81A: With hands on hips (AKIMBO); 88A: OED entries (WDS.); 90A: Arrow groove (NOCK); 91A: Got a little hoarse at the race, maybe (ROOTED); 93A: Moo goo __ pan (GAI); 94A: Take place (OCCUR); 95A: Buckeyes' sch. (OSU); 100A: Seat belt, e.g. (STRAP); 104A: Shakespeare contemporary (KYD); 107A: Funny DVD feature (OUTTAKE); 108A: "Love Story" author Segal (ERICH); 115A: Sailor with "muskles" (POPEYE); 117A: Jay's home (NEST); 118A: __ to one's neck (IN UP); 119A: Textile machine (LOOM); 120A: Fends off (AVERTS); 121A: Disney lioness (NALA); 122A: "__ fan tutte" (COSI); 123A: Coventry carriage (PRAM); 124A: Microscope parts (LENSES); 125A: Computer since 1998 (IMAC); 126A: Some Fr. martyrs (STES.); 127A: Like some feed (OATY); 2D: Versatile block (LEGO); 3D: Clobber (DRUB); 4D: Healing sign (SCAB); 5D: Family support group (AL-ANON); 6D: They botch jobs (BUNGLERS); 7D: Where there are too many fish, as per a 1964 hit (IN THE SEA); 8D: Newspaper name (GAZETTE); 9D: One of The Ramones (DEEDEE); 11D: __ belt (BLACK); 12D: Acknowledge a passerby (SAY HI); 13D: "Unbelievable" band (EMF); 14D: Ethiopian messiah (SELASSIE); 15D: Bullish start? (TAURO-); 16D: __ Park, Colorado (ESTES); 17D: "The Mask of Zorro" heroine (ELENA); 18D: 1962 Paul Petersen hit (MY DAD); 28D: Screen picture (ICON); 29D: Scarfed down (ATE); 30D: Horse and buggy __ (ERA); 35D: Run-down area (SLUM); 36D: Lacking clarity (HAZY); 37D: Bluesman Redding (OTIS); 38D: More erudite (WISER); 40D: "Good" cholesterol, briefly (HDL); 43D: Opal finish? (-ESCE); 44D: Water__: dental gadget (PIK); 45D: Picnic pitcherful (ICE TEA); 47D: Nonclerical (LAIC); 49D: Pull one's leg (TEASE); 52D: Go __ a tangent (OFF ON); 53D: 6 on a handset (MNO); 54D: Former Mideast org. (UAR); 55D: "Be __ ..." (A DEAR); 57D: Tiny parasites (LICE); 58D: D.C.'s Union, e.g. (STN.); 61D: Exiled South Vietnamese president (THIEU); 62D: ''Nausea'' novelist (SARTRE); 64D: __ a fox (SLY AS); 65D: Weather-resistant wood (TEAK); 66D: Basketmaking branch (OSIER); 67D: Diva Anna (MOFFO); 68D: Keen enjoyment (GUSTO); 70D: California's Big __ (SUR); 73D: Soccer ball brand (VOIT); 74D: Islamic spirit (JINN); 75D: Still product: Abbr. (ALC.); 77D: React to a shot, say (WINCE); 82D: Soft shoes (MOCS); 83D: Victoria's Secret spec (B-CUP); 84D: Cajun staple (OKRA); 86D: One starting out (NEOPHYTE); 87D: Radical campus gp. (SDS); 88D: Start of an adage about economy (WASTE NOT); 89D: Rid, as of false ideas (DISABUSE); 93D: Some Hawthorne works (GOTHICS); 96D: Lei wearer's strings (UKE); 97D: Cold relief caplet (CONTAC); 98D: Bad place to be stuck (RUT); 100D: Usually green flower part (SEPAL); 101D: Treasure hoard (TROVE); 102D: Go from green to red, often (RIPEN); 103D: Their service is impeccable (ACERS); 105D: One-named Greek singer (YANNI); 106D: Hope (DREAM); 110D: Mallorca, for one (ISLA); 111D: Kal Kan rival (ALPO); 112D: Director Ephron (NORA); 113D: You might wear it out (COAT); 114D: Award for Tina Fey (EMMY); 116D: Basic center? (ESS).