Captain Crook - McDonalds Restaurant mask (1970s)

From the golden age of McDonaldland, this rare Captain Crook mask dates to the 1970s, when the fast-food giant introduced a full cast of characters to promote its menu. Captain Crook, styled after a mischievous pirate, was part of the original crew alongside Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and the Hamburglar. His role was to slyly guard (and sometimes steal) Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, making him one of the most colorful and short-lived mascots in the McDonaldland universe.

The mask is boldly lithographed on thick cardstock, with Captain Crook’s oversized navy tricorne hat (marked with a yellow “C”), flowing pirate’s hair, hooked nose, and stern expression. Distributed in restaurants and at special promotions, these masks were intended as cheap giveaways for children—most were worn, damaged, and thrown away. Surviving examples in good condition are scarce, and Captain Crook is among the hardest McDonaldland masks to find, as the character was retired by the early 1980s.

Date: 1970s

Issuer: McDonald’s Corporation

Character: Captain Crook (retired mascot)

Size: 11 x 11 inches

Condition: Original vintage mask, excellent survival