Prince Frederick, MD – Arthur Wynne’s career, like his greatest invention, had its ups and downs. Born in Great Britain in 1871, Wynne (pictured left) migrated to the U.S. at the age of 19. He initially settled in Pennsylvania. Wynne was a violinist and journalist. While living in New Jersey during the second decade of the 20th century, Wynne was paying the bills working for New York World. His journalistic talents found him working in the newspaper’s Sunday edition “Fun” section. Wynne created puzzles for the section.
On Dec. 21, 1913, there appeared a diamond-shaped puzzle. It was originally referred to as a “word-cross puzzle.” Later, due to a typesetting error, the name of the puzzle became “crossword.”
Wynne, who died in 1945 at the age of 71, has long been outlived by his invention, designed to amuse Sunday newspaper readers. For many doing crossword puzzles is a competitive sport. The 2006 documentary “Word Play” chronicles the experiences of several high-achieving contestants vying for a $4,000 cash prize at a national crossword puzzle tournament.
Doing crossword puzzles on a regular basis has been acknowledged as a great way to keep one’s mind active. It’s not a cure for cognitive disorders but might be the daily exercise needed to keep the brain in shape.
Most large daily newspapers feature a crossword puzzle, as do many weekly publications. For a standard and definitive crossword compilation available on the Internet on a daily basis visit Best Crosswords.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com