Pappy - Pappy's Pancake House Childrens Menu Mascot Mask (1960s)

From the golden age of roadside family dining comes this delightful Pappy’s Pancake House paper mask, issued in the 1960s as part of the restaurant’s children’s menu promotion. Featuring the cheerful, mustachioed face of “Pappy” himself—complete with bright red clown nose, friendly smile, and polka-dot bowtie—this mask was a way to keep kids entertained at the table while tying directly into the branding of the restaurant.

Pappy’s Pancake House was one of the many mid-century American chains that leaned heavily into mascot marketing to stand out in a crowded family dining market. This mask represents that era’s whimsical approach to customer loyalty: paper ephemera that was meant to be worn, discarded, and forgotten. The fact that this example has survived for more than 60 years is remarkable.

Date: 1960s

Origin: Pappy’s Pancake House (restaurant children’s menu premium)

Size: 9 inches by 12 inches

Condition: Original vintage mask