Harold Teen - Wheaties Cereal mask (1940s-50s) - backside

This vintage Harold Teen mask was printed on the backside of a Wheaties cereal box during the 1940s–1950s. It features the smiling face of Harold, the title character from the long-running American comic strip Harold Teen, created by cartoonist Carl Ed in 1919.

The strip followed the humorous, often lighthearted misadventures of an all-American high school boy navigating love, friendships, and fads. At its peak in the 1920s–1940s, Harold Teen was syndicated in newspapers nationwide and even inspired radio shows, movies, and merchandise. This Wheaties tie-in is one of the rare surviving examples of how comic culture and advertising were intertwined in mid-century America.

Most masks were cut out and used by children, leaving few intact panels today—making this piece a charming and increasingly scarce collectible.

Date: 1940s–1950s

Character: Harold Teen (from Carl Ed’s comic strip)

Origin: Wheaties Cereal box premium

Size: 10 x 12 inches

Condition: Bright graphics with some expected age wear; retains full backside panel