Conundrum: Pic Tac Toe VI

Even though this puzzle is still active, I thought it might be fun to return to a simpler time.

In a “Pic Tac Toe” puzzle, there are nine pictures in a three-by-three grid, like Tic-Tac-Toe. In each row, column, and diagonal, there is a common theme that unites the three pictures. The challenge is to find the eight themes.

You can click on each image to see a larger version:



Please post whatever you come up with in the comments section.

Enjoy!

UPDATE: See comments for correct themes provided by Asher (5) and Neel Mehta (3). Alternate theme provided by Asher.

9 Responses to “Conundrum: Pic Tac Toe VI”

  1. Asher Says:

    Columns – left to right – Fields, Penguin, Insects
    Rows – top to bottom – Botany, Classics(?), Rock/Pop Music Album Cover Art

    Diagonals have me stumped – Catch(?)/Fly(?) and Rye/Wry(?)

  2. Bill Says:

    Correct on the columns, and the top and bottom rows. That’s five themes solved by Asher.

    The middle row and two diagonals remain.

  3. Asher Says:

    Another shot at the middle row: Classic Characters?

  4. Bill Says:

    It’s not Classic Characters. It has to do with names.

    The diagonals are items that fit into categories, rather than a single commonality. So while the center row clearly has penguins visible in each picture, the diagonals have each picture represent a different item from the same category, e.g. Dopey, Doc, and Bashful.

  5. Asher Says:

    Middle row: three-part names

  6. Asher Says:

    Lower left>upper right: catching

  7. Bill Says:

    Three-part names: Not quite

    Catching: That’s not what I was going for, but it holds up. The album cover has a glove on it, and the pitcher plant is catching its prey.

    When someone gives a valid answer that wasn’t what I was looking for, I offer an alternate answer credit, so the original theme stays active.

    So, an alternate answer theme credit goes to Asher!

  8. Neel Mehta Says:

    Sorry. Haven’t been around for a while.

    Middle Row: INITIALS (W.C. Fields, J.D. Salinger, W.S. Gilbert?)
    159 Diagonal: TYPES OF BREAD (wheat, rye, white)
    357 Diagonal: BASEBALL POSITIONS (pitcher, catcher, centerfield)

    Never heard of the pitcher plant until your hint above. I thought Catching was a good guess, but I’m always a sucker for the Rat Pack-style theme.

  9. Bill Says:

    Welcome back, Neel!

    Answers

    Top Row: PLANTS (Wheat stalks, Tree, Pitcher Plant)

    Center Row: LEADING INITIALS (W.C. Fields, J.D. Salinger, M. Butterfly)

    Bottom Row: AN ALBUM COVER (Always a fun theme)

    Left Column: FIELDS (Wheat field, W.C. Fields, Centerfield)

    Center Column: PENGUINS (Pictured)

    Right Column: INSECTS (Fly, Butterfly, “Beatles”)

    Slash: BASEBALL POSITIONS (Pitcher, Catcher, Centerfield)

    Backslash: TYPES OF BREAD (Wheat, Rye, White)

    Picture Credits

    Picture 1
    Picture 2
    Picture 3
    Picture 4
    Picture 5
    Picture 6
    Picture 7
    Picture 8
    Picture 9

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