Well, he's at it again, two different forms of the same puzzle. I created the IMPLIED version and had it tested and it worked well, but one of my testers was tentative with an answer because of the implied nature. I know how some people just don't like implicit answers (I often don't myself) so I thought, OK, I'll make an EXPLICIT version.
I had that tested and my testers (whimsy, Benchen71, lbray53, pchow13) said they liked it but that they had no real feelings about which one I should go with. So, what the heck since both were made I'll post both. I don't think there is a degree of difficulty difference between them, both should play at a level 2 I'd imagine.
Kitten
*CALICO
Persian
Puma
Lion
NUDGES:
IMPLICIT
Nudge 1] I know people often "link" clues, but I don't do it that often - yet I did it three times at least in this puzzle, how odd
Nudge 2] Have you ever been to summer camp, vacation bible school or just have kids? Is there a song that is quite popular and involves a lot of clapping?
Nudge 3] 19A and 21D are both Easter eggs. Perhaps 19A more universally so, but with 21D there was always something in the areas I lived that got people into the church hall more often than mass!
REVEAL:
For the Implicit solve people needed to notice all of the “linked clues” (17, 18 and 47 ACROSS)
Each one of those gave a well-known Bingo term: BLACK OUT, FOUR CORNERS, FREE SPACE
19A had a reference in it to a necessity for “game” play. Using the title word in the clue should probably have lit a light, and the answer was CARD, as in BINGO card
21D was a reference to the fact that so many BINGOs are held in church halls, and there may have been some area bias there because, although that is what I grew up with, I’m not sure it is universal
All of that, plus the title that clearly mentions a game and the answer that was to be a famous dog, I hoped that would invoke “..there was a farmer had a dog and BINGO was his name O…” and lead you to the name BINGO.
For a graphic solution to the puzzle please go to: