Pig N Whistle Melody Lane - Childrens Menu Mascot Mask (1950s) Hollywood, California

Step back into mid-century Hollywood dining culture with this original Pig ’N Whistle / Melody Lane paper mask, given to children in the 1950s as part of their dining experience. The Pig ’N Whistle was a legendary Hollywood restaurant, first opened in 1927 next to Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre, and became famous for its ornate décor, whimsical theme, and connection to the movie industry. Melody Lane, part of the Pig ’N Whistle chain, carried forward that tradition of making dining not just about food but about experience.

This cheerful pig chef mascot mask was handed out alongside children’s menus — a delightful keepsake that doubled as advertising. These masks are rarely seen today, as most were discarded after a single meal. The example here survives as a piece of living history, representing the golden age of Hollywood restaurants when families and celebrities alike flocked to themed eateries along Hollywood Boulevard.

The back of the mask includes the printed children’s menu, with whimsical storybook tie-ins like “Little Red Riding Hood” meals, bringing together food, fantasy, and branding in a uniquely 1950s way. It stands as both a restaurant premium and an artifact of the era when dining out was as much about atmosphere and imagination as it was about cuisine.

Date: 1950s
Issuer: Pig ’N Whistle / Melody Lane, Hollywood, CA
Type: Children’s menu souvenir / advertising mask
Size: approx. 10" x 10"
Rarity: Scarce — few menu masks from Pig ’N Whistle survive, especially intact with legible menus