Our Gang ( Little Rascals ) Fun Kit - Morton Salt Advertising Paper Mask Set (1937) - 6 masks

In the late 1930s, the beloved Our Gang comedy shorts — better known later as The Little Rascals — were at the height of their popularity under Hal Roach Studios. Spanky, Buckwheat, Alfalfa, Darla, and their mischievous friends had already become household names, capturing the carefree humor and innocence of American childhood during the Great Depression.

In 1937, Morton Salt partnered with Hal Roach Studios to release this “Fun Kit” promotional mask set, bringing the Our Gang kids directly into family homes. The set included a series of six full-color paper masks — Spanky, Buckwheat, Patsy, Porky Lee, Alfalfa, and Darla — along with bright activity pages tied to each character. Cleverly disguised as a promotional premium, the kit served both as wholesome entertainment for children and as an advertising tool for Morton, one of the most recognized household brands in America.

The masks themselves were printed in rich lithograph tones, designed to be cut out and worn. Because they were intended for play, very few intact sets have survived. This example, retaining its collection of masks and activity content, is a rare survivor of 1930s Hollywood cross-promotion and corporate advertising ephemera.

For collectors of film history, vintage advertising, or early pop culture, this set represents an extraordinary convergence of Hollywood’s Golden Age, American childhood, and Depression-era marketing ingenuity.

Date: 1937
Maker/Advertiser: Morton Salt Co., in collaboration with Hal Roach Studios
Series: Our Gang (Little Rascals)
Size: approx. 11¼" x 10"
Rarity: Rare — complete or partial sets seldom surface in the collector’s market