Circus Clown - Gateway Restaurant Childrens Menu mask (1960s) - Breezewood, Pennsylvania

This colorful Circus Clown paper mask was issued in the 1960s as part of the children’s menu experience at the famed Gateway Restaurant in Breezewood, Pennsylvania. Known as the “Town of Motels” along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Breezewood became a legendary stopover for travelers in the mid-20th century, and Gateway was one of its most iconic roadside dining spots. To entertain families, the restaurant offered masks like this directly on their menus, combining dining with play.

The design features a classic mid-century clown with a round red nose, bright orange hair, and a cascading rainbow collar. These were designed to be cut out, worn once, and discarded. The reverse still carries the original printed children’s menu, linking the mask directly to its roadside diner origins.

Measures: 10 x 13 inches
Date: 1960s
Origin: Gateway Restaurant, Breezewood, Pennsylvania

Rarity: Masks tied to specific restaurants are far scarcer than national promotions, and Gateway examples have an extremely low survival rate. They represent a unique blend of roadside Americana, mid-century advertising, and family dining culture.