A Happy 80th Birthday Crossword Puzzle for Dylan Fans

My granddaughter Lena is also
a Dylan fan.

My daughter creates crossword puzzles, many of which have been published in the NYTimes and other major publications. Because she's also a Dylan fan I thought she would not object to my requesting a Dylan-themed crossword puzzle for his 80th birthday. It's not quite as easy as a Word Find puzzle. It will make you scratch your noggin, much like trying to resolve the meanings of many of Dylan's lyrics. 

Speaking of puzzles, Dylan used the word "puzzle" only once in all his catalog. Bonus question to those who solve the crossword: In which Dylan song did the word Puzzle appear? 

* * * *

The NYTimes image below is filler so as to put a little more separation between the puzzle and its solution. Look at the answers only if you've given up all hope. Enjoy!

One of Christina's puzzles was published on January 1, 2020
the first NYTimes puzzle of the new decade. 

SOLUTION:

TRIVIA ANSWER: "All Over You"
        Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos

        "Well, you cut me like a jigsaw puzzle..."

"Happy Birthday, Bob!"

EdNote: Every blog post this week will be Dylan-themed in one way or another. If Dylan is not your thing, come back in June. There's a backlog of other material waiting to be shared.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOB

Related Links

On Breaking In to the New York Times Crossword Puzzle Community

Making Crosswords for Fun and Profit: A Visit with Christina Iverson

This week is Duluth Dylan Fest
Many of our events will be streaming.

Duluth Dylan Fest Links

www.bobdylanway.com

www.duluthdylanfest.com

www.facebook.com/duluthdylanfest/

What Do Jason Wussow, Bob Boone and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Have in Common?

SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING NEW DEPT.

Now tell me if this isn’t cool. Congrats, Bob. Vintage car. Vintage theater.

This week I caught a cool photo of a classic car parked in front of the newly renovated and re-opened West Theater, Bob Boone’s latest adventure. It’s right across the street from where Beaner’s Central used to be. I say past tense because this weekend Jason will be celebrating 20 years of serving coffee and other delights here on Central Avenue in West Duluth with a name change. The celebration, which includes ample quantities of music, will also feature a Best Dressed Dog Competition hosted by Paul Lundgren and Christine Dean.

HERE IS FACEBOOK LINK TO THE FULL LINEUPS FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Click Here.

DO YOU LIKE PUZZLES?

Here is the question: What Do Jason Wussow, Bob Boone and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Have in Common?

The clue is the same one Jimmy Durante gave all the seekers of his fortune in the film…
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
..but if you figure out the answer I confess that I do not have a treasure for you.

On one level, this 1963 comedy was formulaic. Create a quest, assemble an all star cast and invite the masses to see what happens.

The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante), who ends up driving off a cliff. Before he bites the dust, kicks the bucket, trips the light fantastic and pushes up daisies, he cryptically tells the witnesses that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot. Naturally they’re all smitten with the bug to be first to find the buried treasure.

In addition to Spencer Tracy as a police captain, you’ll find Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Andy Rooney, Phil Silvers and long list of others, beating the bushes, including Jonathan Winters who was at his zany best. The clue again: Where did Jimmy Durante say the treasure was hidden? (The answer to that question is here on this page.)

Answer to the Puzzle

Bob Boone has opened the West Theater.

Beaner’s is now Wussow’s Concert Cafe

The Buried Treasure was under the Big W.

The answer, my friend, is…

W

This was an attempt to create something fun.
If I failed, you can be sure to have real fun

at Wussow’s this weekend, or the West any day at all.

TRIVIA: One of my first Duluth solo art shows was at Beaners
in July 2010. Were you there?