Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday Saturday Stumper is by Lester Ruff, whose name seems to be an unofficial pseudonym for Newsday puzzle editor Stan Newman. The pseudonym portends an easier puzzle, though not exactly 62-A, six letters, “ABC preceder.” This puzzle was indeed Les Ruff, with out-of-the-way answers but relatively little trickery. The one snag for me: 7-A, six letters, “Start pitching?” and 20-A, seven letters, “Pounded with a pestle.” That 20-A answer seems strained. And the clue for 15-A, eight letters, “Hooked, la Holmes,” almost certainly has a typo.

Clues I especially liked: 8-D, fifteen letters, “Possible message under a red F.” 18-A, six letters, “Royal role for James Earl Jones.” (KINGLEAR it ain’t.) 35-A, fifteen letters, “Anchor’s transition.” And for trickery that might go unnoticed if the answer comes via crosses: 32-D, three letters, “Disbeliever at heart.”

No spoilers: the answers are in the comments.