The 1960s and 1970s were an exciting time for cereal lovers. With the rise of Saturday morning cartoons, companies like Kellogg’s, General Mills, and Post battled it out to create the most memorable and fun cereals. They used creative mascots, eye-catching packaging, and catchy commercials to stand out.
Many of these cereals, however, didn’t survive beyond a few years. While they may not be found on store shelves today, they remain fondly remembered by those who grew up with them. From wild flavors to unique shapes, each one had its own charm.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the forgotten cereals from the 1960s and 1970s that made breakfast a little more magical.
1. Freakies
Launched in 1973 by Ralston, Freakies was an instant hit, thanks to its imaginative storyline. The cereal featured seven bump-covered monsters on its box, who were on a mission to find the mythical Freakies Tree, where they’d live happily forever with an endless supply of Freakies cereal.
The cereal also expanded into chocolate (Coco Freakies) and fruity varieties. Despite its early success, Freakies disappeared in 1977, briefly returning in 1987, only to disappear again the following year.
2. Moonstones
Moonstones entered the cereal world in 1976, promising a celestial experience with its fruit-flavored pieces shaped like stars, half-moons, and planets. Its space-themed marketing made it popular with children, tapping into the fascination with space exploration at the time.
Though reminiscent of Runt’s candy today, Moonstones didn’t last long. Its short-lived run was a disappointment for fans who loved its fun shapes and fruity flavors.
3. Grins & Smiles & Giggles & Laughs
With a name as long as its marketing gimmick, this cereal by Ralston debuted in 1976. The box was just as busy, featuring Cecil, a big yellow machine that supposedly laughed and shot cereal boxes out of its mouth.
Despite its fun premise, the cereal struggled to gain lasting popularity. Though it smiled back at kids in the grocery aisles, it quickly faded away.
4. Crunchy Loggs
Kellogg’s Crunchy Loggs, introduced in 1978, was a corn and oat cereal shaped like logs. The mascot, Bixby Beaver, made the cereal stand out, and it was packed with 10 essential vitamins and minerals.
While the log-shaped pieces were unique, Crunchy Logs didn’t last long, disappearing after only a brief run on the shelves.
5. Wackies
Wackies, introduced by General Mills in 1965, featured oat cereal with banana-flavored marshmallow bits. The quirky ingredients, like “banana bingles” and “oat glots,” added to its wacky appeal.
Despite the entertaining TV commercials, Wackies didn’t have the staying power of other General Mills hits, and it was discontinued not long after.
6. Punch Crunch
Part of the wide array of Captain Crunch spin-offs, Punch Crunch made its mark in the early 1970s. This pink cereal had a bold fruit punch flavor and was shaped like round pieces, similar to Cheerios.
Despite being a part of the popular Captain Crunch family, Punch Crunch didn’t manage to stay on shelves for long. Its fruity flavor might have been a bit too adventurous, and it quietly disappeared as other flavors took over.
7. Puffa Puffa Rice
Kellogg’s introduced Puffa Puffa Rice in 1967, a puffed and toasted rice cereal sweetened with brown cane sugar. Originally marketed with a Hawaiian or Polynesian theme, the branding later changed to a smiling train puffing out cereal from its steam engine.
Puffa Puffa Rice was loved for its light, crunchy texture, but by 1975, it vanished from grocery stores, leaving fans nostalgic for its distinctive flavor.
8. Crazy Cow
Crazy Cow, released by General Mills in 1977, was unique because it turned milk into flavored milk. The cereal came in two varieties—strawberry and chocolate—and the box featured a cartoon cow happily preparing bowls of cereal.
Despite its fun concept, Crazy Cow didn’t last long. After only a few years, it was discontinued, though many remember it for the sweet milk it left behind.
9. Twinkles
Twinkles hit the shelves in 1960, offering star-shaped cereal pieces made from oat and corn, sprinkled with multicolored jimmies. The mascot, an elephant named Twinkles, tied in with a TV animation that aired on NBC and ABC, making it a hit with kids.
Despite the charming character and colorful cereal, Twinkles didn’t have staying power. It was discontinued not long after its launch, becoming a forgotten gem of 1960s breakfast tables.
10. Mr. Wonderfull’s Surprize
In 1972, General Mills introduced Mr. Wonderfull’s Surprize, a chocolate-filled puff cereal that was both sweet and playful. The puffs were designed to burst with a creamy filling—either chocolate or vanilla—adding an extra layer of excitement to breakfast.
However, the cereal often disappointed when the puffs would break, leaving hollow shells and hard bits of filling. This inconsistency led to its quick disappearance from the market.