Jimmy Dugan - Par-T-Mask - Einson Freeman Co. Paper Mask (1933)

Step back to the early 1930s with this rare Jimmy Dugan Par-T-Mask, created by Eisen Freeman Co., Inc. of New York and copyrighted in 1933. Featuring the mischievous comic character Jimmy Dugan.

Jimmy Dugan was a popular comic-strip and gag character of the late 1920s–1930s, often appearing in children’s magazines, joke books, and novelty items. He was depicted as a wisecracking boy with exaggerated expressions — part of the “every-kid” archetype that resonated with Depression-era audiences.

Eisen Freeman licensed the character in 1933 for its “Par-T-Mask” line, alongside other humorous faces. Unlike later cereal tie-ins, Jimmy Dugan wasn’t tied to a single sponsor — he was a free-floating humor figure, appearing where laughs and silliness were needed: in party favors, cheap novelties, and sometimes on postcards.

Today, little original material on Jimmy Dugan survives outside of collector circles, which makes this mask not just a party relic but also a piece of nearly-forgotten comic character history.

Maker: Eisen Freeman Co., Inc.

Year: 1933 (dated on tab)

Series: “Par-T-Mask”

Character: Jimmy Dugan

Condition: Bright colors, intact tabs, light handling wear consistent with age.

Rarity: Pre-cereal era masks are notoriously scarce. Very few from the 1930s survive in collectible condition — especially with tabs intact and copyright lines readable.