This black-and-white short comedic film is one of the many episodes of Jim Hawthorne’s Funny World, a short comedy series from 1960 that served as “filler” in between broadcast scheduled shows and live TV. “Funny World” featured vintage stock footage with hilarious, and often completely incongruous, voice-over by Hawthorne. This one features, and makes a mockery of womens fashion by showing footage of ladies wigs and hats from a Parisian atelier, London sports car club parade, and a stunt performance show by performer “George Soot.” The footage is interrupted on numerous occasions by scenes from a boxing match

Short TV programs such as this one were very popular at this time in order to fill random chunks of time where a TV program either was too short or advertisers hadn’t purchased a commercial break. Jim Hawthorne (November 20, 1918 – November 6, 2007) was an American radio personality and comic actor whose career began as a disc jockey.

Upbeat music begins to play, opening graphic of map of North and South America that eventually becomes a globe (0:08). Opening credits and title page; Jim Hawthorne appears in lower left-hand corner and chick hatches from globe (0:12). Boxers spar at each other inside boxing ring (0:22). Footage of gelled, stylized women’s wigs on mannequins and female models at atelier in Paris (0:29). Footage of ateliers frantically sewing adornments, feathers to hats; Female models wearing various decorative hats at Paris fashion showcase (1:20). Lionfish (1:51). Seahorses flock towards twig underwater (1:56). Various early twentieth century automobile models lined up on London street in front of row of town houses before start of annual traffic test of London Sports Car Club owners, drivers, passengers club; Car models dating from the early 20th century such as perhaps 1903 Oldsmobile, Vauxhall Prince Henry among others (2:04). Cars drive along London streets passing crowds of spectators as they make their way to finish line at Tower of London (2:33). Police man along route seen directing traffic as London County Council tram passes by (LCC’s first electric route opened from Westminster to Tooting in 1903) (2:39). Caricature George Soot dressed in all black devil costume climbs up fire ladder while jet pack on back begins to smoke; Uses zip line to escape from top of ladder before spinning around in field and waving at camera (2:54). Closing credits (3:18).