Know it all

Miniature golf had a boom when a weatherproof carpet was invented in the 1920s. It created a smooth playing surface and made it possible to build a miniature golf course almost anywhere.

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In the 1930s, there were 150 rooftop miniature golf courses in New York City.

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The first miniature golf franchise was Tom Thumb Golf, which began in 1929. The courses had hazards and obstacles to challenge the players. Entrepreneurs could buy a prefabricated mini golf course for $4,500 and be open for business in six days.

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Tom Thumb is a fairy tale first written in England in the 1600s. Tom is no larger than his father’s thumb, which makes the world a dangerous place. He falls into his mother’s pie mix, gets picked up by a bird and dropped into a lake and rides on the back of a butterfly.

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At the age of 4, Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883) went to work for the circus. P.T. Barnum (1810-1891) dubbed him General Tom Thumb. Thumb, who was 33 inches tall, became famous around the world, singing and dancing in the traveling circus.

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Jeffrey Hudson (1619-1682) was a court jester to England’s Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), wife of King Charles I (1600-1649). Hudson had perfect proportions for his small size — only 19 inches tall. He was famous as the “Queen’s dwarf” and “Lord Minimus.”

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At 5 feet 4 inches tall, King Charles I was Britain’s shortest king

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In the 16th century the King Charles Spaniel was a popular pet of English royalty. King Charles II (1630-1685) had two or three spaniels with him at all times. He wrote a decree that the spaniels would be accepted in the House of Parliament, where animals were not usually allowed.

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Dogs have been popular pets of presidents throughout U.S. history. President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) had a King Charles Spaniel named Rex. Can you name the owners and breeds of these White House canine residents? Millie, Checkers, Liberty and Charlie. See answer at end.

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The name Tyrannosaurus Rex derives from the Greek words tyrannos, meaning tyrant, and sauros, meaning lizard. Rex is a Latin for king.

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The world’s smallest reptile is the dwarf gecko, found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It grows up to three quarters of an inch long.

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Answer: Millie (1985-1997) was a springer spaniel that belonged to George W. Bush (born 1946). Checkers was Richard Nixon’s (1913-1994) cocker spaniel. Liberty was Gerald Ford’s (1913-2006) golden retriever. Charlie was a Welsh terrier that belonged to John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).

Know It All is by Kerry McArdle. It runs in the weekend and Wednesday editions of the Daily Journal. Questions? Comments? Email knowitall(at)smdailyjournal.com or call 344-5200 ext. 114.