Today I'm delighted to publish an interview with Lou Sabin, a prolific New York Times crossword constructor of at least 137 puzzles, 108 during the pre-Shortz era and 29 under Will Shortz's edito...
Happy Fourth of July! To celebrate, here are two wonderful new reminiscences of Alfio Micci, a virtuoso violinist and constructor whom I've written about several times before . For many years...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2019/07/alfio-micci-virtuoso-violinist-constructor.html
Another crossword great passed away a few days ago, and his death, though not unexpected, came as a particularly heavy blow. I had been in touch with him recently about a puzzle he'd submit...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2018/07/in-memoriam-mel-rosen-1941-2018.html
Photo copyright 1993, 2018, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSSW-RD Magazine. Very sad news for the start of the new year: Another crossword legend...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2018/01/in-memoriam-maura-jacobson-19262017.html
IN MEMORIAM: CHARLES GERSCH, 1930–2017 Photo by Don Christensen. It is with great sadness that I report the recent passing of another crossword great, Charles Gersch. His son Jonath...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2017/09/charles-gersch-will-weng-submission-guidelines.html
STAN NEWMAN FINDS WILLIAM LUTWINIAK NSA INTERVIEW Some time ago I received an email from Newsday crossword editor Stan Newman, who'd discovered a long piece about William Lutwiniak, one of th...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2017/06/stan-newman-william-lutwiniak-regina-m-heil.html
Happy New Year, everyone—as promised, here are a few cruciverbal treats to start the year off right! CROSSW_RD MAGAZINE CORNUCOPIA Some of you may have read the previous articles I've pos...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2017/01/crosswrd-magazine-cornucopia-jack-luzzatto.html
Now that I'm on break from college, I've been working on a post I'd been planning to write for a while. Yesterday morning, though, I received an email from crossword historian and litzer Todd G...
CHRISTY RIDLEY MALE, NOT FEMALE Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com Crossword researcher and historian Todd Gross reported a major discovery yesterday: Pre-Shortzian constructor Christy Ridl...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2016/05/todd-gross-christy-ridley-helen-pettigrew.html
GRACE FABBRONI ON HER CROSSWORD CAREER Photo courtesy of Grace Fabbroni Recently I heard from crossword historian Todd Gross, who'd been in contact with pre-Shortzian and Shortz-era const...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2016/04/grace-fabbroni-todd-gross-research.html
J. A. FELKER (AND ANOTHER PUZZLE IDENTIFIED) Photo courtesy of Janet Felker, from 1983 Back in January, Jim Horne and Jeff Chen of XWord Info received an email, which Jim subsequently co...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2016/03/j-a-felker-warren-reich-james-hinish.html
Happy New Year, everyone! Over winter break I was delighted to receive an email from Will Shortz telling me about another pre-Shortzian constructor who'd resurfaced: Guido Scarato. Guido...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2016/01/guido-scarato-interview-maleska-letters.html
MARY VIRGINIA ORNA It's New Year's Eve, and I have a special end-of-the-year treat: an interview with pre-Shortzian constructor and chemistry professor Mary Virginia Orna! I first wro...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/12/mary-virginia-orna-maleska-edits.html
PROJECT UPDATE Happy Holidays! One of the more interesting things that's happened since the previous post is that we seem to have discovered a new, previously unlitzed pre-Shortzian puzzle!...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/12/new-puzzle-todd-gross-olio-sequel.html
PROJECT UPDATE Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Today I'm especially thankful for all the people who've helped out with the project and delighted to present some fascinating new information th...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/11/erlenkotter-jorgensen-yskamp.html
Henry Hook, a crossword legend, passed away this week after a period of failing health. This is the third memorial post I've written now about legendary pre-Shortzian constructors who have ...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/10/in-memoriam-henry-hook.html
PROJECT UPDATE After sorting through the pre-Shortzian constructor names and posting the remaining PS Notes on XWord Info recently, I went through my records and put together an updated lis...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/10/missing-puzzles-list-constructors.html
Near the beginning of August, I received an e-mail from litzer, proofreader, and historian Todd Gross, who'd been contacted by Andy and Harriet Earnest, the children of pre-Shortzian constructor ...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/09/louise-earnest-100-more-puzzles.html
Still wondering how the "Moving Forward" metapuzzle worked? Although quite a few people wrote to me saying they were stuck, only 11 solvers actually submitted an answer, so the puzzle was clea...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/09/moving-forward-metapuzzle-wrap-up.html
PROJECT UPDATE Big news: Thanks to Jim Horne, the 1942 , 1943 , 1944 , 1945 , 1946 , 1947 , 1948 , 1949 , 1950 , and 1951 proofread puzzles are up on XWord Info , which means all the avail...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/08/project-done-moving-forward-metapuzzle.html
Merl Reagle—an inspiration, friend, and crossword legend in the pre-Shortzian and Shortz eras—died unexpectedly today at the age of 65. My first introduction to Merl was in the movie Wo...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/08/in-memoriam-merl-reagle.html
PROJECT UPDATE Great news: Even though it's been a very busy travel month, the 1953 and 1952 puzzles are now up on XWord Info , thanks to Jim Horne! Only one more complete year—1951�...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/07/todd-gross-betty-jorgensen-william-yskamp.html
THIRD ANNIVERSARY—ALL PUZZLES PROOFREAD I'm delighted to announce that today is the third anniversary of the Pre-Shortzian Puzzle Project, and all the proofread puzzles are now in! Three ...
PROJECT UPDATE This week we hit another milestone when I sent the proofread 1954 puzzles to XWord Info —there are now 40 years of puzzles up for everyone to enjoy! Thanks again to Jim ...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/06/40-years-alan-derkazarian-ideacity.html
PROJECT UPDATE Great news: The proofread 1955 puzzles are now done and, thanks to Jim Horne, should be up on XWord Info soon! And I just sent off the second-to-last batch of proofreading...
http://www.preshortzianpuzzleproject.com/2015/05/1955-puzzles-todd-gross-charles-erlenkotter.html