Kelloggs Corn Flakes - King Size (1953) - box front

Original vintage cut-out mask promotion box front from Kellogg’s 1953 Corn Flakes “King Size” package. Measures 8.5" × 12".

In 1953, Kellogg’s launched one of their most creative promotions: cereal boxes featuring colorful cut-out masks on the back panels. Pirates, animals, and comic-style faces encouraged kids to save the box instead of tossing it away. This clever marketing move turned an everyday breakfast product into an interactive plaything, making breakfast time part of children’s imaginative worlds.

While millions of boxes were sold, very few survive intact. Most were cut apart by eager children or discarded entirely once the cereal was gone. This King Size panel is an uncommon survivor, offering a glimpse into mid-century American advertising when food packaging doubled as a toy.

Historical Significance:

Confirmed 1953 promotion year.

Only three Corn Flakes box variants carried the mask offer (two 12 oz, one 8 oz).

The “Cut-Out MASKS” banner on the front panel was part of Kellogg’s strategy to stand out in a crowded cereal aisle during the post-war boom.