1. Quisp
Quisp was a sugary cereal shaped like little saucers, which made sense since it was marketed by an alien mascot from another planet. Kids loved the crunchy corn pieces, and the quirky commercials starring Quisp made breakfast feel like a Saturday morning cartoon. The cereal itself was sweet and simple, but it stood out because of its zany advertising style. Quisp’s friendly alien always seemed to be in a battle with Quake, another cereal mascot, and that rivalry became part of the fun.
The cereal was discontinued and brought back a few times over the years, but it never fully returned to its ’60s popularity. People who remember it often talk more about the commercials than the taste itself. The mascot’s wide grin and silly antics were unforgettable to kids who grew up watching. Even now, just hearing the name Quisp brings a wave of nostalgia for a time when cereal mascots were true TV stars.
2. Quake
Quake was the brawny rival to Quisp, introduced as a miner with a helmet and a big personality. The cereal itself was crunchy, square-shaped, and corn-based, not too different from Quisp in sweetness. The real hook was the character rivalry, where kids were asked to “vote” for their favorite mascot.
Eventually, Quisp won out, and Quake disappeared from shelves. Kids who were fans of the underdog miner were disappointed, and it became a story about how even cereals had their own version of popularity contests. Looking back, it seems funny that cereal companies put so much energy into character battles. It just shows how much cereal was tied to entertainment for kids in the ’60s.
3. Corn Crackos
Corn Crackos had one of those names that made parents pause, but kids didn’t care. The cereal was another attempt at a corn-based sweet breakfast option, crunchy and sugary with no real nutritional balance. Its odd name and slightly offbeat commercials made it memorable, even if it wasn’t exactly a household staple.
The cereal faded quickly, but people still laugh about how strange the name was. It felt like the kind of thing that could only have existed in the ’60s when marketing was wilder and less polished. The box design was busy and colorful, almost chaotic. Kids who tried it remember more about how unusual it sounded than how it tasted.
4. Rice Krinkles
Rice Krinkles was Kellogg’s answer to puffed rice cereals, only they were sweetened and came in fun shapes. They were brightly colored and had a clown mascot named So-Hi, which today feels very outdated and culturally insensitive. Back then, kids were just happy to have a sugary rice cereal that was different from the plainer options.
By the mid-’60s, Rice Krinkles were gone, replaced by Frosted Rice. The clown mascot didn’t help it last, and parents weren’t impressed by how sugary it was. Still, for kids who ate it, the cereal was fun while it lasted. It’s a reminder of how quickly cereals came and went during that decade.
5. King Vitaman
King Vitaman was a cereal that wanted to sound healthy, but it was basically sweetened corn and oat pieces. It was marketed as having vitamins and minerals, which made parents feel a little better about serving it. The mascot, a goofy king with a crown, made the cereal feel like a fairy tale treat.
While it tried to strike a balance between “good for you” and “fun for kids,” it was still very much a sugar cereal at heart. The cereal actually stuck around for a while, but its roots are in the ’60s. People who grew up with it often remember the king character more than the taste. It was a perfect example of how mascots carried cereal brands.
6. Cocoa Hoots
Cocoa Hoots was a chocolate cereal shaped like little owls, which made it stand out from other chocolate options. The owl mascot was meant to be wise but fun, giving kids a reason to pick it off the shelf. The flavor was sweet but not as rich as some of the other chocolate cereals that came later.
It never reached the popularity of Cocoa Puffs or Cocoa Pebbles, but it had its fans. Kids liked the owl shapes, even if they got soggy quickly in milk. The box design was also memorable, with big cartoon owls peering back at you. Today, people mostly remember it as an odd little competitor that didn’t last.
7. Krumbles
Krumbles was one of Kellogg’s cereals that leaned more wholesome than fun, but it had a quirky place in ’60s kitchens. It came as shredded wheat squares with a hint of sweetness, and it was marketed to adults as much as kids. The taste wasn’t exciting, which made it less memorable for children.
Still, many families had a box in their pantry at some point. It was the kind of cereal you’d eat if your mom refused to buy anything with marshmallows. The cereal slowly faded away because it never really had a strong identity. It’s remembered now mostly as one of those forgotten boxes tucked into the back of a cupboard.
8. Puffa Puffa Rice
Puffa Puffa Rice was exactly what it sounded like, puffed rice coated in sugar. It came in a bright yellow box with big lettering that kids couldn’t miss on the shelves. It was another attempt to make rice cereals fun, even though it was pretty straightforward in taste.
The strange name is what people remember most, since it was almost impossible to say without smiling. It was discontinued when it couldn’t keep up with flashier cereals. Still, people who had it as kids remember it fondly because of how silly it sounded. It’s one of those cereals that lives on more as a name than a flavor.
9. Kaboom
Kaboom was one of those cereals that looked like it came straight out of a carnival. It featured brightly colored clown faces as cereal shapes, which today might feel more creepy than fun. The cereal itself was sweet and fruity, similar to other rainbow cereals that came later.
Kids liked the fun shapes, but not everyone was a fan of the taste. Some people remember it as being a little on the bland side despite the bright colors. Still, the mascot and circus-style box made it unforgettable in the cereal aisle. Kaboom ended up being more about the look than the flavor.
10. Sugar Jets
Sugar Jets started out in the ’50s but stayed popular in the ’60s, when it was marketed as the cereal of astronauts. The cereal was puffed oats with a sugary glaze, but the real hook was the space-themed marketing. Kids growing up during the space race thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Eventually, it was rebranded into Cheerios variations, but the original Sugar Jets box was pure ’60s charm. Parents didn’t always love the sugar content, but kids couldn’t resist the astronaut tie-in. It’s remembered now as one of those cereals that perfectly captured the excitement of the decade. Eating it felt like being part of history.
11. Sugar Sparkled Flakes
Sugar Sparkled Flakes was Kellogg’s attempt to make cornflakes more exciting by adding a sweet coating. It came in a sparkly box that made the flakes seem magical. For kids who thought plain cornflakes were boring, this was a welcome change.
It didn’t last long because Frosted Flakes had already cornered the market. Still, for a little while, kids got to enjoy the glittery promise of a sweeter morning. The cereal’s name sounded almost like a fairy tale, which made it appealing. Today it’s a forgotten cousin of the more famous Frosted Flakes.
12. Crazy Cow
Crazy Cow was a quirky cereal that promised to make your milk turn chocolate or strawberry. The cereal itself was corn puffs coated with flavored powder, and kids loved watching the milk change color. The mascot was a wacky cartoon cow who always looked like he’d had too much sugar.
It stood out because of the milk trick, which felt like magic at the breakfast table. Parents didn’t love how artificial it was, but kids begged for it anyway. The cereal didn’t stick around long, but it made a big impression on those who tried it. It’s remembered now as one of the wilder experiments of the ’60s cereal craze.
13. OKs
OKs was a cereal shaped like the letter “O” and marketed with a cowboy mascot. It was meant to compete with Cheerios, but it never reached the same level of fame. The taste was plain compared to the sweeter options on the shelves.
What made it memorable was the packaging and mascot, not the flavor. The name itself was odd and didn’t give kids much of a reason to pick it. Eventually, it was discontinued without much fuss. Still, people who grew up with it recall the simple design and the cowboy character.
14. Corn Frosties
Corn Frosties was Kellogg’s way of offering a sugar-coated corn cereal before Frosted Flakes became the main star. The name didn’t stick, but it had the same idea: make cornflakes fun for kids by adding sweetness. It was marketed in the ’60s as a cheerful alternative to plainer cereals.
The cereal’s mascot wasn’t as iconic as Tony the Tiger, and that might be why it didn’t last. Once Frosted Flakes took over, Corn Frosties vanished quietly. People who remember it mostly confuse it with its more famous replacement. Still, it was one of those stepping-stone cereals that only exist in memories now.
