Cinephile frequently does themed puzzles and works his themes in many different ways. Here we have the gentlest of themes: three clues that refer to the Dickens novel “The Old Curiosity Shop”.
Across
1. HEREWITH – HEREW[ard] (the Wake) + anagram of HIT
5. HEIFER – HE (His Excellency) + IF (if) + ER (queen)
9. TOTALLED – double definition
10, 12, 14. THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP – anagram of HERODS POLICY YOUTH
13. MOSES – double/cryptic definition
16. GERMANE – MAN (man) in [Richard] GERE
19. EARMARK – E (oriental) + ARM (weapon) + ARK (old ship)
24, 27. GRANDFATHER – RAND (100 cents) + F (franc) in GATHER (collect). A little difficult because 100 cents could convert to so many things! The Rand is of course the currency unit of South Africa.
25. SET SQUARE – double definition
29, 21. LITTLE NELL – LITT (letters) + LEN (little boy) + ELL (length). Little Nell (Nelly) Trent is a character in The Old Curiosity Shop.
30. SLAPDASH – SLAP (hit) + DASH (instrument panel)
Down
1. HI TECH – E (energy) in HITCH (snag)
2. RETORT – double definition
3, 4. WILL O THE WISP – T (model) + HE (male) in WILLOW (tree) + IS (is) + P (quiet)
6. EPHEMERAL – HEM (border) in anagram of REPEAL
7. FOOLSCAP – anagram of COALS in FOP (dandy)
8. RADISHES – RA (painter) + DISHES (containers)
11. BYNG – homophone referencing Bing Crosby. There are a few famous Byngs. I assume one of them is known for the quote given but I did not bother to verify this.
15. HEARD TELL – HEARD (listened to) + [William] TELL
17. VENGEFUL – V (very) + anagram of EF[f]ULGEN[t]
18. GREAT TIT – G (good) + RE (in connection with) + ATTIT[udes]
20. KISS – hidden word
21. NETBALL – double definition. Not being a football fan, it took me a while to realize what striker refers to here.
22. MANTRA – MANTRA[p]
23. DEARTH – R (right) in DEATH (the end)
26. QUILP – L (student) in QUIP (joke). Daniel Quilp is a character in The Old Curiosity Shop.