Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday Saturday Stumper, by Lester Ruff, was not especially difficult, not especially tricky. A great big giveaway straight down the middle breaks open the puzzle: 6-Down, fifteen letters, “Reference standby since 1852.” But I found some pleasant surprises here and there.

1-Down, eight letters, “Bad-weather wear,” yields an answer of surprising dowdiness. Another favorite: 26-Across, five letters, “They take long naps.” And 64-Across, six letters, “Story arcs.” (Huh?)

I was not happy to see 44-Down, six letters, “Silents’ scene-starting shot,” a dubious clue. “Silent-film effect” or “silent-film transition” would be better.

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.