An old clown and his clever dog steal the show on St. Armands Circle

On a day in St. Armands Circle when flashy sports cars filled the streets and revved up engines drowned the chatter, Birdie McClaine and his white chihuahua, Lady Haha, stole the show. 

The duo performed on a bench next to one of the famous St. Armands Circle statues. McClaine donned a vintage black circus cap and a serious smile.

He played a tune on his accordion. 

As McClaine struck the keys and compressed the accordion, he barked commands at his partner-in-crime Lady. 

“Sit pretty,” he said. 

She obliged and sat on her hind legs in the small rocking chair. The chair seemed to rock back and forth with McClaine’s forearms as he squeezed the accordion. 

Photo by Carter Weinhofer

“Give it to her,” he said to someone, offering a tip. He smiled as if he had a trick to show. 

Lady walked over, held the dollar bill in her mouth and took it to the hat lying on the ground in front of McClaine. She dropped it in the pile and retreated to her rocker. 

Though McClaine lives in Tennessee, part of his history connects to Sarasota’s own. 

Almost 50 years ago, McClaine was a graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Venice. 

Then, from 1976 to 1979, McClaine traveled as a juggler and clown with the Ringling Bros. Circus. The famous circus and Ringling name is rooted in the Sarasota area, where he sat and performed. 

Since he was a boy, McClaine had a knack for juggling and riding a unicycle — skills that transferred to his tour with the Ringling Bros. company. 

During his time with them, he traveled the country by train. 

What was his favorite part about the tour? 

“Probably just living on the circus train,” he said. 

It wasn’t only people who rode the train, but the animals, too. Monkeys, elephants, you name it. 

“It was just one big party,” he explained. 

The accordion is something he picked up about 15 years ago, and now McClaine spends most of his time traveling and performing. 

“I’m basically retired,” he said. “So I just come out and play music with my dog.” 

Photo by Carter Weinhofer

Lady is no ordinary chihuahua. She doesn’t yap and misbehave like most chihuahuas. 

Instead, she sits calmly on her rocker, waiting to do a trick with McClaine. Sometimes it’s taking a dollar bill, other times she vaults over his legs or takes a bow. 

McClaine is from Tennessee but enjoys coming to perform in the Sarasota and Tampa Bay areas. One of his favorite spots is the St. Pete Pier. 

But during this time of year, St. Armands is at the top of his list. 

It’s the holiday feel and decorations on the Circle that he loves the most.