# Origin of the "Way Back Machine" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986 "2001-08-24T20:41:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/1 "2001-08-24T20:41:20Z")
**"Way Back Machine"** This phrase keeps popping up on tv and radio. I remember it from the Gary Shandling show in the late 1980’s. Is there an earlier origin? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/2 "2001-08-24T20:42:59Z")
a cartoon segment on Rocky and Bullwinkle. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/3 "2001-08-24T20:49:06Z")
Specifically, “Peabody’s Improbable History.” Peabody was a super-genius, time-travelling dog, with a pet boy. I’ve had arguments about whether the boy’s name was Sherman or Herman. I think it was Sherman. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/4 "2001-08-24T20:52:45Z")
Thanks folks! That answers my question. Rocky and Bullwinkle are on the outer fringes of my early consciousness. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/5 "2001-08-24T20:53:34Z")
It was Sherman. Here’s a [picture.](http://www.galstar.com/~snohawk/graphics/peabody.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/6 "2001-08-24T20:54:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*Specifically, “Peabody’s Improbable History.” > > Peabody was a super-genius, time-travelling dog, with a pet boy. I’ve had arguments about whether the boy’s name was Sherman or Herman. I think it was Sherman. \*\* Definitely Sherman. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/7 "2001-08-24T20:57:21Z")
Sorry **bup** , I didn’t see your subject line! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/8 "2001-08-25T02:53:34Z")
Mr. Peabody and Sherman would travel through time using the WABAC Machine (note correct spelling) and meet historical figures in this Jay Ward series of shorts seen on the _Rocky and Bullwinkle_ program. The two would help a historical figure do what he or she was most famous for, and Peabody would make a bad pun at the end. Bill Scott was Mr. Peabody, and Walter Tetley, his pet boy Sherman. Of course, a famous phrase came out of people who wanted to turn on their TV and wanted to watch Mr. Peabody. Haven’t you ever heard of…putting on the dog? ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/9 "2001-08-26T18:34:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Bill Scott was Mr. Peabody, and Walter Tetley, his pet boy Sherman. Not to be contentious, but do you have a cite for this? I’m only going by my ears, but I was always under the impression that June Foray did Sherman’s voice. What other characters did Tetley supply the voices for so I can compare them? ---
**Author:** ![dwtno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@dwtno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwtno)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/10 "2001-08-26T19:11:12Z")
This should do it… Walter Tetley Tribute Page [http://www.io.com/~jgjones/tetley/](http://www.io.com/~jgjones/tetley/) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/11 "2001-08-26T19:13:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DAVEW0071 \* > \*\*Not to be contentious, but do you have a cite for this? \*\* These words he speaks are true. Here’s the [cast listing](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0054524) courtesy of the Internet Movie Database. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-way-back-machine/77986/12 "2001-08-27T11:34:03Z")
Gee, thanks. I guess I was misshapen. Another case of ignorance bites the dust.