Howdy Doody and Gang - Philco Television store giveaway mask (1950s)

This colorful 4-sided giveaway mask sheet was issued in the early 1950s by Philco Television dealers as a promotional handout during the golden age of television. It features some of the decade’s most recognizable personalities:

Howdy Doody – America’s favorite freckle-faced puppet

Clarabell the Clown – his mischievous sidekick

Gabby Hayes – the beloved Western film star

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet – sci-fi hero of radio, TV, and comic fame

Distributed free at appliance and furniture stores carrying Philco TVs, these masks served a dual purpose: entertaining children while promoting the new age of home television. Each mask is brightly lithographed with eyeholes and punch slots, stamped with “All Eyes Are on Philco TV” along the bottom — a slogan tying children’s play directly to the brand’s sales pitch.

Measuring approx. 13" x 8", this sheet remains an appealing slice of 1950s pop culture.