Ev 1385

[saladdodger]

15d Renewed supply from vineyard filling retail complex (9) ????????L
2d US playhouse losing top conductor (6) ?E?T??
4d Old tape of phone calls removed from case (5) ?N?L?

[ProfessorMaisie]

There's only one other across entry that's a real word.

1a SHAHS [around] I(sland)- the definition is an odd spelling of a familiar Arabic title - the dropped letter is K.


Reading down, in clue order, the dropped letters give a 3 word quote.

[ProfessorMaisie]

...Sounds like the ginger mog has earned his happy retirement.

[ProfessorMaisie]

...just to clarify 11a - the first letter of the defined answer is dropped, then it's the usual 3 letter writing implement followed by 'head'.

[devadolly]

Thanks for the help and sorry for the late answer, this is definitely a plodder as far as I'm concerned.
The GM has indeed earned his retirement Prof. Tho' it is somewhat of a relief not to have to contend with his wanting us to hunt the non-oven-ready ones with him.