What Is the Shortest Distance Between Two Points?

Happy Thursday from New York City! It started out cloudy and rainy but it turned out to be a beautiful day. We ate lunch in Manhattan and took a long walk afterward. 


Today's puzzle by Charles Slack is called "Short Distance" and these are the theme answers:


20A: First TV Western Series (HOPALONG CASSIDY). This fictional hero was created by Clarence E. Mulford in 1904. Hopalong started out as rude, crude, and tough-talking but turned into a clean-cut hero when the movie series began in 1935. William Boyd played Hopalong in the movies, and continued in his signature role when the TV series started in 1949. Boyd purchased the copyright to the Hopalong Cassidy name, along with the movies, and distributed the old films so they can be shown on the new medium. Also, Hopalong was the first character featured on a lunch box and his image appeared on hundreds of items. There was even an amusement park called Hoppyland, but it didn' last too long. Below is the intro to the series that ran from 1952-1954.

35A: What some genetic traits do (SKIP A GENERATION). Wanna know why? Click on the answer here

49A: Participate enthusiastically (JUMP AT THE CHANCE). 


I started the puzzles in Natan Last's book and I'm enjoying them so far. Will be reporting back as I progress.


Sorry to be so short, but I'm beat and I'm ready for a nap.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick