[net.wanted] 'meanwhile, back at the ranch' source query

aaw@pyuxss.UUCP (Aaron Werman) (06/25/84)

my SO and I have independently been using the expression
'meanwhile, back at the ranch' to signal an abrupt change of topic.
Etymological curiousity requires my asking what is the origin of this
expression. I would be interested to learn if it is used outside
our *folie a` deux*