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Well done, bacchanal, and thanks, whetstone. I was unaware of the Three Stooges, but I do like that genre of comedy, similar to Marx Brothers and Sergeant Bilko. Somehow particularly suited to an American accent.

Bloody hell. Thanks whetstone, and apologies if I've broken convention. I'm new to this, so it's inadvertent - I'll read jono's links with interest.
Regarding the every second letter device, I thought it quite original, only to find it used twice in an old Arachne I'm attempting to solve while on holiday:

Maidens, periodically need bluesy tunes (6)

Roman emperor regularly ignoring advisor, called time on Scotsman (10)

Arachne, of course, had the good grace to place the definition in its proper place!

@whetstone: I LOVE the Three Stooges. They were one of my father's great favourites.

bacchanal: There’s an episode in which the Three Stooges are carpenters who inherit a dress boutique and put on a fashion show with the models wearing chests of drawers, etc. I haven’t seen it in centuries but found it hilarious when I was a kid.