Don't let the lazy gaze with eyelids like upside down sevens fool you. The blanched and big-nosed Mr. Peabody has always been one of your more calculating and capable canines. When the incomparable Jay Ward introduced him to the cartoon-watching community, the year was 1959. (We're sure a few of you could set your Wayback Machines to that year and find yourselves glued to the old antennaed tube.) Who isn't familar with Ward's many classic and campy cartoon creations? Here are a few memory-jogging facts for the less readily nostalgic:

1. Though Ward is widely credited with creating Peabody's Improbable History (probably because the show's title is prefaced with "Jay Ward's"), the ingenious canine educator is actually the creation of several writers, most notably cartoonist Ted Key.

2. Despite the charming premise of a dog and his boy jaunting through history with Peabody's greatest invention, the aforementioned Wayback Machine, the 4.5-minute segments never expanded and branched out on their own. They were considered back-up vignettes first for Rocky & His Friends, then The Bullwinkle Show, then The Hoppity Hooper Show before finally being saddled to the short-lived Dudley Do-Right Show.

3. Show co-producer Bill Scott--the voice behind Bullwinkle and Jean LaFoote--provided the dignifed Doggy's voice. He is also repsonsible for Peabody's name, a homage to Scott's own canine companion.

4. If you're ever feeling especially reminiscent, you can catch Peabody and his pet boy on Rocky and Bullwinkle, currently airing on Cartoon Network.

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