History Main / BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats

* ConversationalTroping in ''WesternAnimation/HortonHearsAWho2008'', when Morton suggests the two of them are a club, Horton says they could be a secret society "and no-one else can join, unless they wear funny hats!"

** In the WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail "fan club", the "Deleteheads" wear hats shaped like Delete keys.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo parodied this in an episode with the Brotherhood of the Gnu (pronounced "guh-noo" by its members).
* The Stonecutters from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', a hidden group operating within Springfield, noted for their bizarre rituals and customs (which look suspiciously like fratboy hazing) and silly privileges (for instance, they know the ''real'' number you call is 912). They may provide the page image, but they actually straddle the line between this trope and AncientConspiracy. Their IAmSong reveals that they're behind a lot of secret activities, but these range from harmless to just plain weird - as you might expect from a group that has a kegger every night. Despite their claims, however, they're only ever shown getting drunk, and when Homer takes over and is convinced to get them to actually do something productive, all the other members abandon the Stonecutters and form ''another'' secret organization without Homer.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' movie "The Beast with a Billion Backs" Bender joins the "League of Robots". Bender calls them out on being a Brotherhood of Funny Hats (though they don't actually have hats) who just sit around in their clubhouse and drink instead of actually doing anything like, say, killing all humans.
* On ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'', Scoutmaster Lumpus is a member of one of these, the Legume Council.
* On ''WesternAnimation/KappaMikey'', most of the cast of Lily Mu (other than Guano, he's too short) were members of the "Order of the Oni". They quit after the Order kicked Mikey out shortly after he joined.

* On ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpy'', Stimpy and Ren's cousin Sven belong to the Royal Order of Stupids.

* Back in its day, one of the most well-known examples was the Mystic Knights of the Sea lodge in ''Amos 'n' Andy'' (1928-1960); both protagonists belonged to it, and the lodge's leader, George "the Kingfish" Stevens, was the third central character of the series. The Kingfish's CatchPhrase "Holy mackerel!" continues to be used to this day.

* The various livery companies of the '''City''' of London (not to be confused with the London Metropolitan Area) are the modern incarnations of various medieval guilds such as the bowmakers, the apothecaries, the tanners, the fishmongers, the basketweavers, etc. Some of them have found a role in the modern world (like the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, which now license the Black Taxicab drivers, or the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, who test all British-made firearms for safe operation), others became charities, but they all kept their old traditions, many of which involve hats. In addition, each of these livery companies is responsible for electing The Right Honorable Lord Mayor of London, who gets his own silly hat (and accompanying outfit) to wear around.

* In ''ComicStrip/MyCage'' office dope Jeff is a member of the "Hammerhead Lodge", in one strip Norm tells him he pictures them sitting around wearing Viking hats and drinking beer at their meetings. Jeff laughs at the insinuation, while thinking ''must kill Norm, he knows too much.''

-->-- Flavor text for the "Fraternal Orders" card, from the CollectibleCardGame ''Illuminati: New World Order''

* ''VideoGame/HypnospaceOutlaw'' has HORUS, which seems like a sinister conspiracy but is just a bunch of executives competing to hide their symbol in public places and see who who notices.
* The ''[[VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries Henry Stickmin]]'' series has the Toppat Clan, a criminal organization introduced in ''[[TheInfiltration Infiltrating the Airship]]'' known for wearing many kinds of top hats that Henry is tasked with taking down by the government. They are the main antagonistic force of the series, and play a large role in not only ''Airship'', but in ''[[GrandFinale Completing the Mission]]'' as well.

* Then there's the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternity that [[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/04/images/20080416-3_p041608sc-0146-515h.jpg takes the cake]] for [[TheHilarityOfHats silly hats]]. They have recently adopted a simple beret with the [[https://www.kofc.org/un/images/news/fourth-degree-uniform.jpg Order's logo]].
** [[http://www.kofc.org/un/en/insurance/index.html They also sell]] [[MundaneUtility insurance]].

* The infamous Bullingdon Club is basically one of these with extra WackyFratboyHijinx. No actual hats, but they have a formal uniform consisting of, "bespoke tailored tailcoats in dark navy blue, with a matching velvet collar, offset with ivory silk lapel revers, brass monogrammed buttons, a mustard waistcoat, and a sky blue bow tie." Their InitiationCeremony varies in detail, but includes lighting a £50 note on fire in front of a homeless person and (allegedly) committing depraved acts with the head of a dead pig. Being an UpperClassTwit is not an official membership requirement in their charter, but it helps.

* The various livery companies of the '''City''' of London (not to be confused with the London Metropolitan Area) are the modern incarnations of various medieval guilds such as the bowmakers, the apothecaries, the tanners, the fishmongers, the basketweavers, etc. Some of them have found a role in the modern world (like the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, which now license the Black Taxicab drivers, or the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, who test all British-made firearms for safe operation), others became charities, but they all kept their old traditions, many of which involve hats. In addition, each of these liveru companies is responsible for electing The Right Honorable Lord Mayor of London, who gets his own silly hat (and accompanying outfit) to wear around.

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Order_of_Turtles Ancient Order of Turtles]]: because after a hard days work shooting down Nazi planes do you need a drink? You bet your [[strike: sweet ass]] Diabetic donkey you do.

* In ''Film/CarryOnMatron'', Sir Bernard’s enmity towards Dr Goode turns to friendship when they discover they are both members of the '''Grand Order of Newts'''. A later remark from Sir Bernard to Matron implies that, unusually for a Brotherhood Of Funny Hats, the Newts admit lady members.

* In ‘’Film/CarryOnMatron’’, Sir Bernard’s enmity towards Dr Goode turns to friendship when they discover they are both members of the ‘’’Grand Order of Newts’’’. A later remark from Sir Bernard to Matron implies that, unusually for a BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats, the Newts admit lady members.

** They were founded much earlier, however - in 1868, according to Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

See also GangOfHats. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Has nothing to do with]] ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.

* The Knights of the Golden Light in ''Strangehaven''

* Gamma Mu Mu (the rival frat house/skater team) in ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie'' was depicted as one of these briefly in a montage. Predictably, Goofy's role as a candle bearer [[HilarityEnsues does not go over so well]].

* Creator/LaurelAndHardy were members of the titular order in their movie ''Film/SonsOfTheDesert''. It was such a success that their [[strike: fan club]] Appreciation Society took the same name.

* Then there's the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternity that [[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/04/images/20080416-3_p041608sc-0146-515h.jpg takes the cake]] for [[NiceHat silly hats]]. They have recently adopted a simple beret with the [[https://www.kofc.org/un/images/news/fourth-degree-uniform.jpg Order's logo]].

[[caption-width-right:350:Who illustrates this trope the best? We do!]]

* ''Power Rangers'' ''https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2213080/1/Of_Love_and_Bunnies'' provides an example of this with a group of teenage girls at Reefside High School who have a crush on ''Tommy Oliver'' and have created a group called D.O.R.K.S. or Dr. Oliver's Royally Kissable Stalkers...who wear the aforementioned hats.

* ''Power Rangers'' ''Fanfic/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2213080/1/Of_Love_and_Bunnies'' provides an example of this with a group of teenage girls at Reefside High School who have a crush on ''Tommy Oliver'' and have created a group called D.O.R.K.S. or Dr. Oliver's Royally Kissable Stalkers...who wear the aforementioned hats.