LAT Thu. 8/13 Don Gagliardo

[magus]

GOOD ONES!

Toto's two?    ARFARF [The clue echoes The Wizard of Oz line, "And Toto, too."]
Needle bearers   FIRS [wasn't thinking pines]
Pressing issue?   CREASE
Chinese toy   PEKE [wasn't thinking dogs]
Fingers   IDS [wasn't thinking identifies]

I also liked that two abutting clues were about chocolate: how it's made and who eats it.

I truly enjoyed this puzzle, especially the theme.  I had gotten THEBIRDS and SUSPICION before any of the other theme answers, and I wondered whether Don had realized he had two Hitchcock titles.  I should have known; Don is a master constructor.