Tramp - Rorabaugh Brown Department Store (Par-T-Mask) Promotional Advertising Mask (1933)

This scarce “Tramp” mask dates to 1933 and was produced by the Einson-Freeman Company under their Par-T-Mask line. Distributed through Rorabaugh Brown Department Store, this example represents one of the earliest mass-produced advertising masks of the Depression era.

The “Tramp” character reflects the enduring popularity of the down-and-out but lovable hobo figure, made famous in vaudeville and silent film—most notably by Charlie Chaplin’s “Little Tramp.” Retailers capitalized on this cultural icon to engage shoppers and their children, handing out inexpensive but colorful masks as promotional premiums.

Printed on lightweight lithographed paperboard, the mask carries the Par-T-Mask branding and store imprint on the reverse, verifying its authenticity and retail tie-in. Very few of these masks were saved, as they were cheaply made, ephemeral items designed for short-term use at costume parties or store events. Nearly a century later, they survive as rare artifacts of both American advertising history and popular culture in the 1930s.

Historical Context:

Par-T-Masks by Einson-Freeman Co. were among the earliest branded lines of party and promotional masks in the U.S.

Rorabaugh Brown Department Store (based in Kansas and Oklahoma) competed with regional chains, using giveaways like these to draw Depression-era shoppers.

The “Tramp” motif resonated in 1933, during the height of the Great Depression, as the figure of the hobo was both comic relief and a cultural symbol.

Details:

Date: 1933
Issued by: Rorabaugh Brown Department Store
Manufacturer: Einson-Freeman Co. (Par-T-Mask line)
Character: Tramp / Hobo comic figure
Size: approx. 8" x 10"
Medium: Lithographed paperboard, cut with string tabs