Line #74 Main/ShaveAndAHaircut


1	[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shaveandahaircut_4894.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:315:Two bits!]]
3
4	Probably the most infamous seven beats of music in the modern world, or at least high on the list, this five-and-two lick appears everywhere. In music, it's a sting to end a piece; in other media, it appears in a joke and/or as a recognition signature, usually a knock--the first person taps out "shave-and-a-hair-cut," and waits for the "two bits" response.[[note]]"Two bits" is old American slang for 25 cents, dating from the time of the Spanish Milled Dollar, which was worth 8 Spanish Reals — one Real, or "bit", was an eighth of a dollar. This was why pirates called them [[Literature/TreasureIsland Pieces of Eight]]. Incidentally, good luck finding a barber that gives a shave and a haircut for 25 cents these days, and good luck, too, trying to incorporate inflation into a two-knock beat (ten bucks, maybe?)[[/note]]
5
6	For laymen unfamiliar with musical terminology and reading musical notes, "Shave and a Haircut" is the name of the familiar beat that goes "[[https://youtu.be/zWbjP_ahuB4 dun dun-dun dun dun, DUN DUN.]]"
7
8	While the rhythm is flexible, and the words change, it's always to a similar tune, though some different versions of it exist. Illustrated is actually a variation of the original tune, with a flattened sixth. (A flat instead of an A). Another common variation is to have an additional faster note between the "and" and "a" part of the melody, usually an augmented fourth. (which would be an F# in the illustrated example).
9
10	(Cultural warning: be careful with expressing this song in Mexico or in front of Mexicans, because as noted under the real-life section this sting is ''extremely'' offensive over there and is likely to get you in serious trouble with another Mexican unless you have enough of a friendship to justify it as friendly teasing).
11
12	For an equally ubiquitous song intro, see the MinskyPickup.
13
14	----
15	!!Examples:
16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Advertising]]
19	* A '50s Swedish ad jingle for a cough drop. ''"Hälsan för halsen, Bronsol."'' "Health for the throat, Bronsol."
20	* In the late 1970s/early 1980s, VW advertising in the US used the tagline "Volkswagen Does It Again" set to this beat.
21	* A 1991 British advert for an anti-rust coating called Hammerite used a [[RepurposedPopSong repurposed]] version of the [[{{Vaudeville}} music hall]] song "Any Old Iron", which ended with "Stick it on yer drainpipes, all right!"
22	[[/folder]]
23
24	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
25	* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M27yK34I2d4 "Is It a Break?"]] from the ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' soundtrack, the "shave and a haircut" melody can be heard at about 55 seconds in.
26	* Occurs as a RecurringRiff in the OP of ''Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco'' (the "two bits" can only be heard in the short version of the song).
27	* In an episode of the English dubbed ''Anime/DigimonFusion'', Shoutmon says "Shave and a haircut to this!" when attacking an enemy.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Comedy]]
31	* In the Music/MitchBenn show ''Ten Songs to Save the World'', he says that people on the autistic spectrum can't accept things that don't make sense (like Greta Thunberg with "Climate change is a serious problem, we know how to fix it, but eh."). He illustrates the dissonance an autistic person feels at these things by playing "da da-da da da" on his guitar and then stopping. It feels like ''that''.
32	[[/folder]]
33
34	[[folder:Comic Books]]
35	* When ComicBook/{{Loki}} stole the [[TheArchmage Sorcerer Supreme]] mantle from ComicBook/DoctorStrange, he drove himself nuts trying to find the key to the latter's locked vault. Turns out, he just needed to knock on it to this rhythm. Loki was not impressed ("Oh, you unbelievable hack...")
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
39	* ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'':
40	** In one cartoon, an exasperated conductor informs his orchestra that they will ''not'' be concluding the symphony with "Shave and a Haircut".
41	** In another, police are arresting a group of mobsters, and one of the mobsters complains, "I knew it. I just knew it! 'Shave and a Haircut' [[ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish was a lousy secret knock]]."
42	* A cartoon in ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' by Roz Chast skewered the inflationary angle, portraying a barbershop with a sign reading, "Shave and a haircut, 200 bits."
43	* An old ''ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean'' comic featured band director Harry Dinkle recounting his very first piano recital. He couldn't remember how Moonlight Sonata ended, so he ended with "Shave and a Haircut"
44	[[/folder]]
45
46	[[folder:Film — Animated]]
47	* ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'': Anna's signature knock is the "shave and a haircut" rhythm, as seen whenever she knocks on Elsa's door in "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" and in a flashback in ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure''.
48	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Onward}}'': Barley used to drum it on his dad's feet, blowing two raspberries for the "Two Bits" part.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
52	* Used in classic style in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', complete with the demonstration that Toons ''must'', absolutely ''[[RuleOfFunny MUST]]'' [[ComeOutComeOutWhereverYouAre complete the line]] if the "two bits" is omitted. Judge Doom knows how to use this to lure Roger out of hiding.
53	-->'''Judge Doom:''' [[BeatItByCompulsion No Toon can resist]] the old "shave and a haircut" trick...
54	* Several ''Film/TheThreeStooges'' short subject films have them. Usually a stooge (usually [[TooDumbToLive Curly]]) would tap something (usually a wall) and get a response from whatever is on the other side ([[RuleOfThree usually some kind of monster]]). They would mirror it perfectly until the "shave and a haircut" part was tapped out. A delay, a "nyuk nyuk", a "two bits" response, and you know the rest.
55	* Del Griffith clears his throat to this tune in ''Film/PlanesTrainsAndAutomobiles''.
56	* Used in ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'' when a florist delivers flowers to Ferris's house, where Mr. Rooney is. The florist honks the "shave and a haircut" but. Mr. Rooney [[FlippingTheBird flips the bird]] in lieu of the 'two bits'.
57	* This tune shows up in ''Film/YouveGotMail'' at the end of the scene where Joe and Kathleen meet (physically) for the first time.
58	* In the scene in ''Film/ForrestGump'' where Forrest goes on ''The Dick Cavett Show'', Forrest has recently played ping-pong in China. As Forrest enters the studio, the (in-movie) band plays a jingle starting with an Asian-sounding tune and ending with Shave and a haircut.
59	* Used at the beginning of ''Film/KramerVsKramer'' by Ted Kramer when knocking at the door of his own home.
60	* In a scene in ''Film/SpyKids1'', Juni accidentally handcuffs himself to a metal lunchbox. He walks away from Carmen, trying to shake it off, and the soundtrack drum plays "Shave and a Haircut". Juni responds with "two bits" by smashing the lunchbox into the wall, and the lunchbox rebounds and slams into his head.
61	* Used in ''Film/WhatsEatingGilbertGrape'', when Gilbert has to lure Arnie down from the water tower: "Match in the gas tank, boom boom!"
62	* TheMovie of ''Theatre/OnTheTown'' has the main characters hiding under a street vendor's stand while being chased by police. One of them sticks out a sign saying, "Shave and a Haircut--75¢,"[[note]]this would be SIX bits, which still fits the rhythm[[/note]] and the familiar snippet is heard.
63	* In ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'', Vernon goes into the library to investigate the commotion caused by Bender falling through the ceiling of the bathroom; unknown to him, Bender is hiding under a table at the moment. Bender starts to sit up but bonks his head on the table, and Andrew nearby quickly raps the "and a haircut" part of the beat; Bender fist-beats "two bits" back.
64	* ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'': Lancelot uses this knock at the hideout where professor Arnold is locked. Perhaps wanting to appear inconspicuous.
65	* In ''{{Film/Flubber}}'', Professor Brainard tests Flubber's intelligence by blowing a raspberry to this beat, with Flubber giving the "two bits".
66	* In ''Film/LethalWeapon4'', Riggs honks this on his car horn upon disrupting the meeting between [[BigBad Wah Sing Ku]] and the General.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Literature]]
70	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
71	** "Shave and a haircut, no legs" is the jingle of the Guild of Barber Surgeons.
72	** Used as a secret knock ("The [[strike:Hairdressers]] Barber-Surgeon's Knock") in ''Literature/MakingMoney''.
73	** At the start of the Music With Rocks In story ''Literature/SoulMusic'', "Shave and a haircut, two pence" is the very first thing the drummer plays.
74	--->'''Lias''': Shave and haircut good deal for two pence.
75	* According to John [=McCain=]'s autobiography, Vietnamese people are unfamiliar with this ditty and would tap back "shave and a haircut" again, so he and other American [=POWs=] would use it as a TrustPassword to hail each other through walls.
76	* Shows up in a couple of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novels. The first time it appears, Harry uses the words "six bits!" as the punchline - perhaps he learned of the gag from the Michelle Shocked example below in Music? Regardless, someone must have corrected him, as in a later book he uses the more common "two bits" version.
77	* ''Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz'' by Creator/LangstonHughes:
78	-->The musical figurine indicated after each "Ask your mama" line may incorporate the impudent little melody of the old break, "Shave and a haircut, fifteen cents."
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
82	!!!In General:
83	* Argentinian comic Carlos "Carlitos" Balá had this in his TV sketches as his signature greeting or knocking, using it each time he could. The first part, if not used for knocking, would be vocalized by him as "pa-pa-ra-ra-pa", and a chorus of children's voices would be heard responding with his last name: "Ba-lá!"
84	!!!By Series:
85	* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfOzzieAndHarriet'': The Nelsons' neighbor "Thorny" Thornberry always announces his arrival with this knock.
86	* ''Series/{{Andor}}'': In "[[Recap/AndorS1E7Announcement Announcement]]" when Cassian visits Bix during the night, he uses the shave-and-a-haircut knock on her door and appears to wait for the "two-bits" response.
87	* ''Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies'': This snippet is frequently used as a stinger at scene's end on this show. It's always heard played by a banjo, closing out a short section of bluegrass-style "picking."
88	* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': Amy knocks "shave and a haircut" on her kitchen table when Sheldon claims that he has no problem leaving things unfinished. After a brief staring match he compulsively knocks "two bits".
89	* In the ''Series/BlackadderII'' episode "Beer", Queenie knocks on Blackadder's door this way, with Percy rapping on the table inside for the last two notes.
90	* The theme for ''Series/CampRunamuck'' ends this way.
91	* ''The Captain and Tennille Show'' show had a recurring sketch called "Masterjoke Theatre" which opened with the very regal theme music from the real ''Series/MasterpieceTheatre'' (from "Symphonies and Fanfares for the King's Supper" by Jean-Joseph Mouret), except the song ended with an equally regal version of this sting.
92	* Mexican comedy show ''Derbez en Cuando'' by Creator/{{Televisa}} used the Mexican meaning in a sketch from Eugenio Derbez's character Dr. Armando Hoyos, where he defined "lamentamos"[[note]]literally "we lament", but for the purposes of the joke, taken as meaning "we insult their mothers"[[/note]] as "tata-ta-tata", which is how the Shave and a Haircut is known in that country.
93	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
94	** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E4TheEnemyOfTheWorld "The Enemy of the World"]]: The Second Doctor mimes recorder-playing to indicate to Jamie that it is him and not [[IdenticalStranger Salamander]]. Jamie whistles the first part of 'shave and a haircut' and the Doctor happily finishes off with the "two bits".
95	** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife "The Doctor's Wife"]]: This is what the white message box uses to knock on the TARDIS' door. In fact, the closed captions for the episode actually read "Knocking 'shave and a haircut'".
96	* Subverted on one episode of ''Series/FullHouse'': someone knocks at the front door "Shave and a haircut, two". The listening family nearly falls over when the expected "bits" doesn't land. (What kind of psychopath would do such a thing? [[spoiler:[[Series/FamilyMatters Steve Urkel]]!]])
97	* On ''Series/GhostHunters'', the team is constantly using it to try to get responses from whatever paranormal entity might be lurking in the location of the week. The team member knocks out 'shave and a hair cut' and waits for the entity to knock the 'two bits' response.
98	* The episodes of the German comedy series ''Klimbim'' always ended with this.
99	* In the ''Series/KraftSuspenseTheatre'' episode "Are There Any More Out There Like You?", a college student plays the melody on his recorder.
100	* A variation of the song is in the closing theme music to ''Series/MarriedWithChildren''.
101	* ''Series/{{MASH}}'':
102	** Hawkeye once started singing Largo al Factotom ("Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!") before segueing into "Shave and a Haircut". Radar then adds, "So that's where that came from!"
103	** In "Bug Out", the unit has bugged out (except for Hawkeye, Margaret, and Radar) and see a shack they can use as a makeshift operating room. Upon hearing giggling (it's occupied by ladies of the night), B.J. knocks "Shave and a Haircut", then whistles "two bits".
104	* The ''Series/MuppetsTonight'' version of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'''s "Mahna Mahna" sketch (where the pink... ''things'' have been appearing whenever Kermit says "phenomena") ends with Creator/SandraBullock's psychiatrist character saying "you should see what happens whenever I say "Shave and a haircut"... Cue a giant furry monster appearing out of nowhere, lounged across her desk: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Mc55P1i9g "Two bits!"]]
105	* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'':
106	** In "[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S04E01SpaceTravelers Space Travelers]]", Joel and the 'Bots do the song in a riff following "Creator/GregoryPeck will be back in [for example] ''Film/MackennasGold''!"
107	** In "[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S05E18TheAtomicBrain The Atomic Brain]]", the antagonist of [[Film/TheAtomicBrain the film spoofed]] knocks on a door to find out if two of the girls she has hired are in the room. Mike quips "'Shave and a Haircut'! What do we do?"
108	* ''Series/OurMissBrooks'': Walter Denton usually rings the bell at Mrs. Davis', but a few times he knocks to the tune of "Shave and a Haircut".
109	* ''Series/OutOfTheBox'': The song "Listen to the Rhythm" ends with the "shave and a haircut plus two bits" twice, the first by Tony and the second by the children and Vivian, befitting of it being the last "rhythm" for the song.
110	* ''Series/{{QI}}'': In the 10th-season ChristmasEpisode "Jingle Bells", in a discussion about astronauts playing practical jokes, Danny Baker mentions [[UsefulNotes/VoyagerGoldenRecord the Golden Record included in the Voyager probes]], which contains pictures of humanity and the Earth, greetings in assorted languages and musical works ranging from Bach to Chuck Berry. Danny then says that a NASA guy he once spoke with told him that NASA also included the first five beats of the "Shave and a Haircut" knock, in the belief than any intelligent life wouldn't let it go, and some day they would receive the "Two bits" knock back from space.
111	* In ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', J.D. visits Dr. Cox at home and knocks "shave and a haircut" on his door. Cox, exasperated, whips it open during the pause. J.D.: "Two bits."
112	%%* Most Muppet sketches on ''Series/SesameStreet'' have these.
113	* ''Series/TheSootyShow'': Sooty's MagicWand was always activated by tapping it to the full "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits" rhythm ([[TheVoiceless sometimes]] preceded by the Catch-Phrase "Izzy-Wizzy, Let's Get Busy").
114	* A BlackComedy, punny example was used on an episode of ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'': after the Cryptkeeper, dressed as a barber, snips someone's ear off, we hear the victim scream. The Cryptkeeper then holds up the severed ear, sings this, and laughs.
115	* In ''Series/ThreesCompany,'' "Shave & a Haircut" is Larry's distinctive knock on the door.
116	* During Creator/JohnnyCarson's hosting of ''Series/TheTonightShow'', the band would frequently end the opening theme with "Shave and a Haircut".
117	* At the end of the "Agatha All Along" theme from ''Series/WandaVision'', with Agatha interjecting "And I killed Sparky too!" before the "two bits".
118	* This is the password to get into Santos's secret stem-cell meeting in ''Series/TheWestWing''.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Music]]
122	* Music/VictorBorge had a comedy bit about the lady who invented the "two bits" part, but without words so it was an unrecognizable couple of notes until the punchline where the phrase was played in full.
123	* The Smothers Brothers have a bit involving church bells that combined to form the tune.
124	* In nearly every one of his polka medleys, Music/WeirdAlYankovic includes "Shave and a Haircut" right before the final few notes.
125	* The end of the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qixMnBDaw4 Cabbage Rolls and Coffee Polka]]" by Yosh and Stan Schmenge of ''Series/{{SCTV}}'' fame contains multiple variations on the theme... which goes on for half a minute. (Most of their polkas ended with shave-and-a-haircut, as a running gag.)
126	* At the end of Music/TomLehrer's "The Elements", from ''Music/AnEveningWastedWithTomLehrer''.
127	-->And there may be many others, [[ScienceMarchesOn but they haven't been dis-covered!]]\
128	''[shave-and-a-haircut playout]''
129	* The rapid strumming section of Nuno Bettencourt's solo in Music/{{Extreme}}'s ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGjmXhES2wQ&t=2m26s Play With Me]]'' ends with one of these.
130	* The shortest musical single ever released was called "Magic Melody, Part 2," by Les Paul. It consisted entirely of "two bits!" and lasted less than one second. Part 1 had ended abruptly on "Shave and a Haircut," and [=DJs=] had been complaining.
131	* The Japanese rap song "Shiroi Yami no Naka" by Shakkazombie ends in this.
132	* Music/PDQBach:
133	** The theme of the Fugue in D minor from "The Short-Tempered Clavier" is built around the melody of "Shave and a Haircut".
134	** The first aria of the Music/PDQBach cantata "Blaues Gras" ends with "Rasieren und Haarschneiden, zwei bitte." Which means, of course: "Shave and a haircut, two please."
135	* Mike Portnoy of Music/DreamTheater has used this as an audience participation segment at the end of his drum solo.
136	* [[Creator/TreyParkerAndMattStone DVDA's]] version of "What Would Brian Boitano Do?" feature a guitar riff based on the rhythm of "Shave and a Haircut", and the phrase is also played on the drums after each chorus.
137	* At the end of Michelle Shocked's version of "The Arkansas Traveler"(?) the old man playing the farmer in the dialogue parts ends up flubbing the classic ending, "Shave and a haircut: two bits!" by saying "six bits" instead. [[ThrowItIn This is followed by]] his and Michelle's raucous laughter, and the old man muttering the quip, "Six bits?...I'll saw you in half for six bits...."
138	* It happens at the end of "Unsquare Dance" by Dave Brubeck.
139	* Happens at the end of "Piano Picker" by Music/{{Carpenters}}.
140	* Music/RichardCheese's version of "Come Out and Play" by Music/TheOffspring ends with the famous original riff (on xylophone), then switches to this for the close.
141	* "Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe ends with this.
142	* The first LP put out by [[Music/AlvinAndTheChipmunks David Seville and the Chipmunks]] included the song "Yankee Doodle." Near the start, Alvin sings "...and called it spaghetti" instead of "macaroni" much to Dave's annoyance. The song ends with the chipmunks singing "Shave and a haircut -- SPAGHETTI!"
143	* Multiple iterations of the theme appear in the Jimmy Giuffre tune "Cloudburst." (The Sam Taylor recording of the song was turned into vocalese by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, and was covered notably by Barry Manilow, the New York Voices, and others.)
144	* The end of the Martin Garrix & Tiesto song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a1s3iPkV7M The Only Way is Up.]]
145	* Pete Rugolo built an entire arrangement around the theme, creatively titled "Shave and a Haircut". It was a follow-up of sorts to his "Theme from the Lombardo Ending", which was built around the five-note figure which Guy Lombardo's orchestra often used to end its songs.
146	* First two lines of chorus from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYFNyj8tjDg "Verdinha"]] ("little green", slang both for a dollar bill and cannabis) by Brazilian singer Ludmilla are five of those seven notes ("two bits" notes are out). For some reason.
147	* David Zed's ItaloDisco song "I Am a Robot" has it at the end.
148	* An instance of a song ''opening'' with this is Music/FranzSchubert's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GEdaMm6ITo Military March No. 1 in D major]], though in this case the "two bits" is omitted and the second-to-last note in the opening goes down rather than up.
149	* The original version of "Love and Marriage" by Creator/FrankSinatra ends with this.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Radio]]
153	* In ''Radio/TheGoonShow'' episode "The Great Bank of England Robbery", Neddie, Eccles, and Bloodnok are trapped underground. When tapping on the walls and receiving mysterious replies, Eccles taps out the first part and, in the silence that follows, ribs the listeners for expecting the second part but is interrupted by the Two Bits! tap.
154	* In a 2013 episode of ''Radio/TheNowShow'', Music/MitchBenn sang a music-hall style song about the then-current resignation of Pope Benedict XVII, "What Do You Do With a Bloke Who's Pope (When the Bloke Ain't Pope No More)?", which ended with him singing "Ave Maria, amen!" to "Shave and a haircut".
155	[[/folder]]
156
157	[[folder:Theatre]]
158	* ''I Can Get It For You Wholesale'' uses this riff in the middle of the OpeningBallet.
159	* ''Theatre/WestSideStory'' has it sung at the end of "Gee, Officer Krupke", albeit with triplet eighth notes rather than regular eighth notes for "Officer":
160	-->"Gee, Of-fi-cer Krup-ke, ''[[GoshDangItToHeck KRUP YOU!]]''"
161	* ''The New Moon'' uses a minor variant of this at the end of the eccentric dance following "Love Is Quite A Simple Thing."
162	* A "shave and a haircut" riff oddly comes right in the middle of the Shipoopi song in ''Theatre/TheMusicMan''.
163	* "This Is The Life" from TheMusical version of ''Theatre/GoldenBoy'' finishes off the spoken call-and-response patter with:
164	-->'''Group''': Shave and a haircut--\
165	'''Joe''': Me next!
166	* ''Theatre/HalfASixpence'', the 1965 Tommy Steele vehicle based on the Creator/HGWells novel ''Kipps'' (filmed with Steele in 1967, revived without him in 2016), the chorus of the song "Flash Bang Wallop", about a Victorian wedding photo, ends with "Stick it in your fam'ly album!"
167	[[/folder]]
168
169	[[folder:Video Games]]
170	* If you run out of lives in the GameWithinAGame in ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfWillyBeamish'' on Platform/SegaCD, the "game over" tune ends with a speedy "shave and a haircut".
171	* ''VideoGame/BatmanDarkTomorrow'': After subduing a group of Arkham inmates, Batman hears someone playing an organ tune, and goes to investigate. The camera pans over to the organ and reveals it's Joker, who ends his session with a contrasting "Shave and a Haircut" snippet.
172	* Three cartoon shorts were created for ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'' Chapter 3. One of them is called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ysjpJpoqrs "Haunted Hijinx,'']] and it ends with this tune.
173	* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' featured a version of the tune, titled "Rat-a-Tat-Tat, It's . . . Mitsuda!", in its [[DevelopersRoom toughest ending]]. (Yasunori Mitsuda was the composer.)
174	* ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'' has a song from the soundtrack, "Winner Takes All", where this "Shave and a Haircut" tune plays at the end.
175	* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKonga'': The song for the juggling minigame is "Turkey and the Straw", but ends with Shave and a Haircut.
176	* In the beginning of ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', Pokey/Porky knocks on the door in a very annoying fashion. In the middle of the knocks is the classic "Shave and a Haircut".
177	* The first five notes appear at about 55 seconds into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyv_pc8y7QU&feature=related the stage 2 theme]] from ''VideoGame/Gimmick1992''.
178	* The ''VideoGame/{{Glider}} PRO'' house [[AutomaticLevel "AutoPilot"]] has a room titled "Shave and a Haircut," where 'Copters are set to spawn in this rhythm.
179	* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'', sometimes when you honk the first half of this tune using a cat horn, other drivers will respond with the rest.
180	* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', Alyx plays this on the buttons of a vending machine, and bangs on it twice for the "two bits" part. It's her way of signaling to Dr. Kleiner that it's her, and opens the door to the secret lab behind the vending machine.
181	* In ''VideoGame/{{Jazzpunk}}'', this is the secret knock to get into the hotel in the Soviet Embassy level.
182	* In both ''VideoGame/LegoIndianaJones'' games, whenever you knock on a door.
183	* In ''VideoGame/NutsAndMilk'', the "MIS TAKE" jingle (for when the player loses a life) is a variation on this familiar two-bar motif.
184	* In ''VideoGame/{{Ponpoko}}'', this is used as the GameOver jingle.
185	%%* In ''VideoGame/SimCity Societies'', when you select the "Band House" building.
186	* "Sting Barbershop" in ''Spore'' is used as the death sting of Clark & Stanley, who appear in [[TheyKilledKennyAgain a large string of adventures]].
187	* In the Arcade Version of ''VideoGame/RingKing (a.k.a. King of Boxer)'', this is used as the GameOver jingle after you lose the match.
188	* ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven'':
189	** Used in "The Snappy Trio" from the first game, at the end of the song.
190	** Another minigame, "Dr. Bacteria" has this attached to the end of the song before it loops.
191	** This comes up again in ''VideoGame/RhythmHeavenMegamix'', found at both the beginning and the end of "Catchy Tune."
192	* One of the bosses in ''VideoGame/RocketKnightAdventures'' (whom you face in a few smaller battles before the end of the stage) has this accompany each of his defeats at your hands.
193	* ''VideoGame/UmJammerLammy'':
194	** "I Am a Master, and You", Lammy's version of the Chop Chop Master Onion stage, eventually evolves into this quite subtly, eventually--unsurprisingly--finishing off with it.
195	** Also occurs in the outro of Stage 1.
196	* In ''VideoGame/ZeroWing'', this riff finishes off the ending theme of the arcade version.
197	[[/folder]]
198
199	[[folder:Web Original]]
200	* ''WebAnimation/GorgeousFreeman'' uses this as a gag. As Freeman is surrounded by more and more Combine soldiers every way he looks, he glances over a door. A soft knock is heard on the opposite end, hitting first six notes before it [[MadeOfExplodium explodes off its hinges]] revealing more Combine.
201	* Spanish-speaking YouTubePoop often uses this beat in the Mexican sense, [[RefugeInAudacity specifically for being extremely offensive]].
202	* A clip of Suisei from WebAnimation/{{Hololive}} [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jzA5m9Ln_fQ clapping the Shave and a Haircut in frustration while playing online video games]], which in context sounds quite Mexican in meaning.
203	* Creator/Wileyk209zback: In most of his Big Bad Wolf videos where he plays a record of the Disneyland Records studio cast version of Disney's ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeLittlePigs'', there's a part where the Wolf on the record knocks this way on Practical Pig's brick house, and usually after that, the actual Big Bad Wolf sings "Two bits!" This is borrowed from a gag he and his friend Tomblappy came up with for ''WebVideo/GoldenBookVideoKillers''.
204	[[/folder]]
205
206	[[folder:Western Animation]]
207	* ''Film/AceVentura'' used this in the AnimatedAdaptation: He suspects he's being followed and does the "Shave and a Haircut" on his cat, since the other cat responded with the two bits, he knows he's being followed.
208	* On an animated insert on ''Series/SesameStreet'', An animated orange ball plays a scale on the musical staircase. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDg26v5LhS8 And then ends with the tune (But the last 2 notes were wrong), And gets applauded by the audience.]]
209	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'', a synthesised version is used right after Mr. Horse delivers his famous "No sir, I didn't like it." line from "Fire Dogs".
210	* "WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie" uses this to end the "Turkey in the Straw" sequence.
211	* Too many ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' cartoons to name. "WesternAnimation/ShowBizBugs" is an excellent example of this.
212	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' did this a lot, particularly with Yakko's songs (and also with "Wakko's America").
213	** The end of the theme song to WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain. "Narf!"
214	* Used at the end of most ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'' episodes.
215	* Phil Ken Sebben in ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'': "Shave and a haircut, two [[CurseCutShort ti-whoah]], hold on".
216	* [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' knocked on a steel door this way in the GrandFinale, but instead of ''knocking'' the "bits" part she [[spoiler:knocked the door down. She then [[ExtraOreDinary turned it into armor]], and [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome used it to defeat multiple superpowered firebenders in a couple seconds]]]].
217	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' had it at the end of the President's Day assembly's song for "lesser" Presidents.
218	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
219	** Used in the episode "Fall Weather Friends", when Applejack makes the apples from a tree fall on Rainbow Dash's head in tune with this melody.
220	** One wishes they'd had a bet for two of the Equestrian coin of the realm; the Bit.
221	** The [[SpecialEditionTitle special end credits]] for "Pinkie Pride" ends with this.
222	* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': In "Fireside Girl Jamboree", Candace falls asleep on the keyboard after spending all night trying to win special VIP tickets to a Paisley Sideburn Brothers concert; when she sits up, some of the keys that stuck to her face pop right off as the melody plays in the background, and she spits out two more keys to the "two bits" part.
223	* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Bunny Hunt" ends with this tune.
224	* Played by Owen in the ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' episode "I Triple Dog Dare You" on his freebie bottles.
225	* Done twice in "We're Despicable (Plunderers' March)" in ''WesternAnimation/MrMagoo's Christmas Carol''.
226	* Several episodes of UPA's ''WesternAnimation/MrMagoo'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheDickTracyShow'' end with this, particularly the episodes made at Jayark Films (Larry Harmon Studios).
227	* This tune is how Pete makes his entrance in "[[WesternANimation/MickeyMouse The Klondike Kid]]", but done with revolver shots.
228	* In the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck cartoon "Trailer Horn", Chip and Dale drop a bunch of pine cones on Donald's breakfast and break his dishes to this tune, with the last two cones hitting Donald in the head for the "Two bits".
229	[[/folder]]
230
231	[[folder:Real Life]]
232	* The Italian one (Ammazza la vecchia col Flit) means "Kill the old woman with DDT!"
233	* The phrase "hasta la vista, baby" fits the sting almost perfectly.
234	* Creator/NardwuarTheHumanServiette ends all his interviews with "doot doola doot doo" and the interviewee provides the "doot doo" at the end.
235	* A popular variation in the United Kingdom was "How's your father? All right!" the first part of which became slang for a certain act, as in "A bit of 'ows-yer-father".
236	* Used at the end of "George and Lil", a 1980s PIF about burglary prevention.
237	* In Icelandic it's ''Saltkjöt og baunir! Túkall!'', meaning ''Salt mutton and pease pudding! Two crowns!''.
238	* In Mexico it's known as ''tata-ta-tata'' and it means ''¡Chinga tu madre, cabrón!'', meaning ''Fuck your mother, asshole!''. Do not knock on a Mexican's door with this pattern unless you have enough of a friendship to justify it as friendly teasing[[note]]while this sting is always considered offensive, Mexican humor is also edgy to the point of being able to pass off such an otherwise huge offense as minor if you are not Mexican or have enough of a friendship with the victim[[/note]]. If you hear this tune being honked in a Mexican street, that means someone is having a fit of road rage -- this led to an American UrbanLegend which claims that if you honk the tune on your horn in a Mexican neighborhood, you'll likely be shot dead (which is not necessarily true, but given its local meaning, it has a very real possibility of leading to violent incidents).
239	* As noted under "Literature," American [=POW=]s in Vietnam communicated by tapping Morse code on their cell walls. One would initiate a conversation by tapping the familiar "shave and a haircut" pattern as a form of TrustPassword. The other person would finish with a "two bits" knock. If the respondent instead repeated "shave and a haircut", it meant he was a Vietnamese agent.
240	* In Sweden there are two 'lyrics' to this tune. The oldest is "Kvart över elva, halv tolv." "A quarter past eleven, half an hour to twelve." The second is the cough-drop ad jingle above.
241	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE5PGeh2K9k This]] video on making an electronic secret knock detector of course uses it as the secret knock.
242	* An old novelty book called Telephone Songs (or something like that) listed the buttons to "play" as 9-4-4-2-1-6-6. Now go try it yourself.
243	* A children's playground song used for counting people out uses the tune:
244	--> Skunk in the barnyard.\
245	[=PU=]!\
246	Somebody ate it.\
247	That's you!
248	* All of the current ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' generations can be said to this tune, as most people refer to them as either "Gen" or "G", followed by their number - try saying phrases like ''"My Little Pony G3"'' or ''"My Little Pony Gen 4"'' in this tune, and you'll get the idea.
249	* In Morse Code, the sequence slash M (/ M) has exactly this rhythm (dah di di dah dit [pause] dah dah).
250	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ShaveAndAHaircut