Crossword puzzle answers: February 15, 2017

ACROSS1 Hoax 5 Cognac rating 9 Purplish flower 14 Gutter locale 15 Wonder Woman's friend 16 Thwart the goalie 17 Triangle tip 18 Sundae topping 19 Whale's diet 20 Earned 22 Oval-nest builders 24 Surfer's summit 26 The Plastic -- Band 27 Brief romance 30 Gets cozy 35 Transported 36 Woodpecker treat 37 Mark's successor 38 Car grill cover 39 Droopy-eared one 42 Stick up 43 Singer -- Redding 45 Europe-Asia range 46 Whisper on stage 48 Wire 50 More softhearted 51 Rib- -- steak 52 Toughen up 54 Spendthrift 58 Notice 62 Old cattle town 63 Like the U.N. 65 Pored over 66 Thesaurus man 67 Payroll deduction 68 Vulcan's forge 69 Get the lead out? 70 Pre-college 71 Judge

DOWN  1 Thin stratum 2 Horn, for one 3 Claim 4 Like refried beans 5 Facade 6 Small earrings 7 Slugger Mel -- of yore 8 El --, Texas 9 Sounding out 10 Dickens' heavy 11 Hard work 12 -- Stanley Gardner 13 Family mems. 21 Gives it a go 23 Trip itinerary 25 Seaquake aftermath 27 Monks' superior 28 Specialty 29 Hardly robust 31 Simon or Diamond 32 Like the tabloids 33 Crumble away 34 Not pickled 36 "-- Smile" (Hall & Oates tune) 40 Make baby food 41 Wildlife refuges 44 Does a slow burn 47 Made a mean face 49 Whirl around 50 Genghis' grandson 53 Gunslinger's tally 54 As time -- on 55 Bing Crosby tune 56 It's a long story 57 Vitality 59 Solar plexus 60 Barn topper 61 Red-waxed cheese 64 Naught