Pirate Pete - Wheaties Cereal mask (1940s-50s) - backside

Arrgh, matey! This bold “Pirate Pete” mask comes straight from the golden era of cereal-box promotions (1940s–50s), when Wheaties transformed the breakfast table into a world of play. Printed on the back panel of a Wheaties box, Pirate Pete’s snarling face—with his black eyepatch, rugged stubble, gold hoop earring, and red-dotted bandana—brought high-seas adventure right to American kitchens.

These cutout masks were designed to fire up children’s imaginations, letting them step into exciting characters while promoting the “Breakfast of Champions.” Because they were meant to be cut out, played with, and discarded, intact examples like this are scarce, especially with strong color and clean outlines.

📏 Measures: 11 x 8.5 inches
📅 Date: 1940s–1950s
🎨 Origin: Wheaties cereal backside premium