Froggy (The Gremlin) - Buster Brown Gang - NBC Television promotional giveaway mask (1946)

Step back into the golden age of radio and the earliest years of television with this scarce Froggy the Gremlin paper mask, issued in 1946 as a promotional tie-in for NBC’s Buster Brown Gang. Froggy was created by Ed McConnell and quickly became the breakout star of the show, famous for his impish interruptions and his gleeful catchphrase: “Hiya, kids! Hiya, hiya, hiya!”

Distributed directly to children through sponsor promotions, this mask captures Froggy’s wide-eyed grin and signature bow tie. Unlike many generic party masks of the 1940s, this piece is historically significant: it represents one of the first mass merchandising efforts linked to a children’s broadcast character. Froggy’s image appeared not only on masks like this, but also on toys, premiums, and early licensed products — making him a pioneer in the now-common world of children’s character branding.

Most of these fragile paper masks were used and discarded, leaving very few intact survivors. Today, this piece stands as a rare bridge between vintage advertising, early television, and American pop culture history.

Date: 1946
Character: Froggy the Gremlin from The Buster Brown Gang (NBC)
Size: 8.5" x 10"
Rarity: Scarce; among the earliest licensed television character masks and merchandising.