Pancho (The Pirate) - Kelloggs Corn Flakes mask (1954) - backside

Original vintage cut-out mask from the back panel of a 1954 Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box. Measures 8" × 11".

In the mid-1950s, Kellogg’s continued their popular mask promotions, turning everyday cereal packaging into a child’s costume toy. This example, known as “Pancho the Pirate,” features bold artwork with a striped bandana, skull-and-crossbones motif, gold hoop earring, and eyepatch. Kids were instructed to cut along the lines, punch the holes, and tie string through to wear it — meaning very few panels survived intact.

Promotions like these reflected a post-war marketing boom when cereal companies competed fiercely for young customers. Pirates were a popular theme in the 1950s, thanks to comic books, TV serials, and films, and this mask tapped into that cultural wave perfectly.

Today, surviving masks like Pancho offer a glimpse into the golden age of breakfast-table advertising, when packaging doubled as play.

Historical Significance:

Issued by Kellogg’s Corn Flakes in 1954.

Part of a series of cut-out mask backs.

Artwork captures mid-century fascination with adventure themes.

Rare to find uncut and displayable after 70 years.