I have already asked this question on MPSIMS and found out I am not the only one who has heard this, so I know I am not crazy (or at least I have a lot of company.)
When the money comes out of an ATM, there is the distinctive sound of the Woody Woodpecker theme song played as the money is shot out of the machine.
Does anyone know why? Is this just an amazing coincidence, or is there a technical/whimsical reason?
OMIGOD - my main bank has an ATM that does this - it’s the only one I’ve ever heard, and when it’s counting the money it does the little song! It sounded to me at first like the “Woody Woodpecker” theme, but after repeated listening I think it’s really “Charge!” - you know, that little ditty that goes “da da da DA da DA - charge!”
Or maybe we are sharing a joint hallucination.
You’re not crazy – the ATM at the First Union bank next to my office does it, too. I did a double take the first time I heard it.
I’ve gotten so used to the Woody Woodpecker song playing after the cash has been counted but before it’s been dispensed, I’d think something was amiss if I didn’t hear it. Of course, it’s not quite Woody Woodpecker’s song, because it’s followed up by a little trill and then a note a wholestep lower.
Anthracite: Now that you mention it, the Woody Woodpecker song does bear an uncanny resemblance to “Charge!” Maybe the ATM is telling me to use my Charge Card. <rimshot>
I dunno, but Xerox Tektronik color printers sing “Nanny nanny boo boo” as they print.
So when’s someone in the know gonna step in here and tell us that it was dreamed up by some ATM manufacturer?
I asked a friend last night who is a 30 year veteran of working for Diebold(major player in ATM market). He knew nothing. And he programs these things and is high enough to know about it.
Can anyone let us know the BRANDS of ATMS that are doing this. That might help.
From the cuff I would actually guess Diebold… Sounds familiar. I’ll check next time if I think of it.
I seem to recall hearing a bit from “I’m in the money” playing when it dispenses $$.
Bizarre. Here in Seattle, I don’t think I’ve ever heard an ATM make any sounds other than the buzzing and clicking of the machinery. Where is all this trillage occurring?
Here neither. Such musical ATMs are unknown in the Jackson, MS area and in Southeastern Louisiana. Can’t speak for the rest of the country.
New York City checking in, and my bank’s ATM definitely sounds like it’s playing “charge!” when dispensing cash.
I’ve always written it up to coincidence, as that sound seems to come from the mechanics of the dispenser.
Perhaps the OP is referring not to overdubbed music, but rather to the rhythm of the chunking and whirring as the ATM disgorges cash? Seems like I’ve used ATMs before that make a repetitive “duh-duh-duh-DOOOO-duh” noise when spitting out bills. ALmost like the Woody Woodpecker theme. I’ve always put it down as the action of some internal mechanism as it pulls twenties off the stack.