Tonto (The Lone Ranger's faithful friend) - Wheaties Cereal mask (1950s) - backside

An exceptionally rare survivor from the golden age of TV westerns, this Wheaties cereal cutout mask features Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s loyal companion, as he appeared in the 1950s. Kids would have carefully cut these straight from the backs of their cereal boxes, bringing their heroes from the radio and TV screen into their living rooms.

The Lone Ranger franchise dominated 1950s popular culture, and Wheaties—always tying themselves to America’s most recognizable heroes—offered this mask as a premium to engage children at breakfast tables nationwide. Unlike traditional promotional giveaways, these masks were literally part of the cereal packaging, making clean, intact examples extremely scarce today.

Date: 1950s

Origin: Backside of Wheaties cereal box

Character: Tonto (Jay Silverheels’ iconic role on TV)

Size: 7.5 inches by 10 inches

Condition: Displays well with vibrant color; does have a central tear that has been neatly repaired with archival tape on the back (visible in photos).