William C. McClain (12 October 1866 – 19 January 1950) was an African-American acrobat, comedian and actor who starred in minstrel shows before World War I.

He was influential in extending the range of minstrel shows far beyond the traditional conventions of the time, giving them appeal to much wider audiences.

[1] On 10 January 1891 McClain was performing with Cleveland's Colored Minstrels in San Francisco when he fell from his trapeze and had three teeth knocked out.

In 1892 the couple joined the extravaganza South Before the War, in which McClain was stage manager and the leading black comedian.

[7] In the summer of 1893 McClain directed the black performers in a spectacular reenactment of the American Civil War Siege of Vicksburg, which was staged outdoors on Manhattan Beach in Coney Island.

[8] Promotional material said the "Scenes of rural simplicity" portrayed the "lovable, bright side of the true southern negro."

[11] Although billed only as music director, McClain probably created and directed the show, which carries forward elements of much of his earlier work, particularly his script Before and After the War.

[12] In a 2 June 1895 report on the Brooklyn show titled "Fun for the Darkies" The New York Times identified Billy and Cordelia McClain as the aristocracy of Ambrose Park.

[14] Billy McClain starred in A.G. Field's Darkest America, and led the company in a tour of regular theatrical circuits.

The show included songs, dances and sketches, and depicted African American life from the plantation up to modern times.

A review in the 11 November 1896 Colored American of Washington D.C. praised the show, full of "clean, bright and wholesome fun".

[15] Another reviewer said the "delineation of Negro life, carrying the race through all their historical phases from the plantation, into the reconstruction days and finally painting our people as they are today, cultured and accomplished in social graces, holds the mirror faithfully up to nature.

Walker−had their hearers in fits of laughter throughout the evening, their reappearance on the stage after their turns in the first part being always the signal for fresh outbursts of mirth.

Before the interval ballads were well rendered by Madame Cordelia...[19] While in Australia McClain acted as manager for the Australian black boxing contender Peter Felix.

[5] After returning to the USA McClain appeared in Gus Hill's Smart Set company, which starred performers such as Ernest Hogan, Tom McIntosh and Sherman H. Dudley.

A review of a performance at the Empire Theatre in Newark, New Jersey on 13 October 1902 said, "The advent of a new darky sensation, the like of which our eyes have never seen before, greets the world.

While in France McClain drove a 40 hp De Dion-Bouton from Paris to Monte Carlo in a record time for touring cars.

[30] McClain was one of the pioneers in introducing "vaudevillized minstrelsy", which opened a wider range of styles on the eve of the ragtime era.