Norman Rockwell’s three April Fools’ covers for The Saturday Evening Post are the inspiration for this month’s PuzzleWatch. The first of these was printed in 1943 and was so popular with Post readers Rockwell did two more, in 1945 and 1948.
Following Rockwell’s example, this crossword highlights several fool-ish works of art, music, theater, and cinema, as well as some of the fool-ish characters who inhabit them. You might immediately think of Shakespeare’s fools, who can be “witty fools” or “foolish wits,” spouting words both wise and wacky. But you’ll also encounter many a modern-day fool found in cartoons, plays, and television shows. And, of course, we’ve been singing songs about being “fools in love” for centuries.
Enjoy the puzzle and also take a moment to view the three April Fools’ illustrations of the brilliant Norman Rockwell. All three can be seen on this website, which allows you to zoom in to appreciate the painstaking detail or laugh at the artistic frivolity. Just enjoy fooling around.
April Fools – Click here for an interactive puzzle you can fill out in your web browser
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