Happy 100th, Word-Cross!

December 21st, 2013 marks the centenary of the American-style crossword, the hundredth anniversary of what is now considered the very first crossword puzzle. What started as a single "Word-Cross" puzzle created by Arthur Wynne that ran in the New York World on December 21st, 1913 has not only lasted, it has grown, so much so that there are many new crosswords created every day.

At this turn of the crossword century, we can look backwards and forwards at the same time. A lot has stayed the same, but even more has changed. Today, constructors frequently use software aids to help them make puzzles and more and more solvers solve on their digital devices, using products like Puzzazz. The New York Times says they have more than 100,000 subscribers to their Premium Crosswords, and that number is sure to grow.

This page collects anniversary puzzles by a variety of constructors, a wide assortment of articles on the crossword's 100th anniversary, news videos and on-camera interviews, interviews with constructors and editors, some physical celebratory books, and even a poem.

As we like to say around here, enjoy!

Anniversary Puzzles

Puzzle constructors are creative people, so there have been lots of anniversary puzzles created in celebration of the centenary. Some, we're proud to host here on Puzzazz, others are available elsewhere online. Here is a sampling (click on any image or link to access the puzzle).

by Roy Leban		by Parker Lewis		by Ed Sessa
by Joe Krozel		by John J. Bulten		by Finn Vigeland

Articles & more

Here are some of the best articles we've found about the crossword's anniversary:

Videos

Videos and video interviews (some have overlapping content):

Interviews

Here are some of the recent interviews:

Crossword Centennial Books

	On Crosswords: Thoughts, Studies, Facts and Snark About a 100-Year-Old Pastime, by constructor and writer T Campbell, a breathtaking exploration of three major, interrelated topics: crossword history, kinds of crosswords and how crosswords relate to everything else, with an introduction by Puzzazz Founder Roy Leban.
	The Centenary of the Crossword: The Story of the World's Most Popular Puzzle, by cryptic crossword setter John Halpern. Forget riddles, conundrums, or that modern usurper Sudoku, the crossword is the original and best word puzzle and it has truly stood the test of time. a decade-by-decade history of the world's favorite word puzzle, from 1913 to total global domination, and a consideration of future solving and the next 100 years, with forwards by New York Times Will Shortz and The Times of London crossword editor Richard Browne.
	The Curious History of the Crossword: 100 Puzzles from Then and Now, by Ben Tausig, an examination of the history of the crossword, from their evolution to what solvers expect today, plus puzzles old and new for you to solve. (read an excerpt)
	Merl Reagle's 100th Anniversary Crossword Book, brand new lighthearted and highly entertaining brain teasers from the acclaimed, award-winning puzzlemaker Merl Reagle. Illustrations by award-winning cartoonist Jim Borgman add humor and character to this anniversary keepsake, a collector's item for ardent and casual solvers. (Also available on Merl's web site)
	Cluetopia: The story of 100 years of the crossword, by David Astle, crossword setter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, toasts 100 years of remarkable clues from around the world, through 100 mini-chapters, each one with a clue to crack.
	100 Years, 100 Crosswords: Celebrating the Crossword's Centennial, 100 brand new puzzles by the nation's top constructors, celebrating the last 100 years, edited by Peter Gordon.
	100 Years of Crosswords features 113 puzzles, including one representing each anniversary year, plus puzzles from Dell Sunday Crosswords and the Crosswords Club.

And a Poem

And, finally, here's a tribute to the crossword from Matt Jones, in poetic form:

'Twas the Nite Before Crosswas
by Clematt Joore

'Twas the nite before Crosswas; through my habitat
No fauna's astir. Hey, not even a rat!
The etuis were hung near the ingle full on,
In hopes that St. Elia would be there anon;

The kids (sis and bro) were both snug and abed,
While acai berries and Ugli fruit danced in their head;
And mama in her snood, and the dog with its muzzle;
I'd just settled down for a tough Friday puzzle.

When out on the lawn there arose such a din,
I dropped my grid, rushing to see what came in.
Away to the window I hied like a flash,
Rent open the shutters and tossed up the sash.

The lunar display of the snowfall anew
Gave the luster of noontime to objects in view,
When, what to my quizzical eyes should show, a
Quite miniature dray, and eight eensy anoa!

With a wee old driver, so lively and spry, ah!
I knew in a sec it must be St. Elia.
More rapid than ernes his oxen they came,
And he oho-ed and aha-ed, and called them by name;

"Now, DACHA! now, DANZA! now, PARSER and PIXY!
On, COHO! on EROS! on, ODER and NIXIE!
To the top of the wall! to the top of the stoa!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away, anoa!"

As sere leaves ere the wild gale would fly,
When alit on an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up past the eaves the ungulates flew,
With the dray full of puzzles, and St. Elia, too.

And then, at an impasse, I heard on the roof
The clipping and clopping of each little hoof.
As I pensively held my pencil (like a boss),
Down the flue St. Elia came--not across!.

He was togged up in fur, from his pate to his foot.
His white raiment was checkered with ash and with soot;
A passel of puzzles he'd slung on his back
(Almost like a spider, carrying its sac).

His orbs -- how twinkly! his dimples so merry!
His cheeks were like asters, his nose of Bing cherry!
His mustachioed lip curled in an arc-like track,
While his sporting goatee was peppered white and black.

The nub of a briar pipe tight in his teeth,
Smoke encircled his head in a halo-like wreath;
His belly -- if you could envision that last pic --
It jiggled when he laughed, like a plateful of aspic.
He was not at all svelte, but not quite obese,
And I laughed on espial (with hahas and tehees)!
With a wink of his eye and a twist of the pen,
He soon led me to attack that grid once again;

He gave me sparse hints, at the same time gift-giving,
(I bet it's tough to lade stockings while eking out a living),
And cluing me in, with his finger on nose,
As he filled that last square, up the flue he arose!

He sprang to his dray, to his team gave a hallo,
And they flew, and they flowed like the juice of an aloe.
O'er the field he exclaimed, and it's he I would thank,
"HAPPY CROSSWAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD ___!"

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