kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Her show was canceled soon after. Getty Images. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. 1937) Elwood . She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Duncan performed alongside stars like actress Jayne Mansfield, singer Jerry Colonna, comedian Hedda Hopper, and the Les Brown orchestra in places like Pearl Harbor, Korea, Okinawa, and Guam. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. aid: '769722', GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. Born in Pasadena, California, Duncan entered show business at age 13, when he was a member of a dance quartet that performed at McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena, California. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. Rest well, Betty. He is a Black Tap Dancer. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White's show was canceled shortly after receiving backlash for her refusal to cancel Black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? Arthur Duncan, whose exuberant tap dancing carried him from the streets of Pasadena to Betty White's variety shows in the 1950s as one of the first Black regulars performing on television,. Some facts about Betty White . This, along with his earlier inclusion (despite objections) on The Betty White Show in 1954 and with the help of White herself, made him the first African-American regular on a . This was in 1954. He typically performed one solo routine per episode, scored by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, but also frequently danced with peers Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Arthur said, I was on the show, and they had some letters out of Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Betty White: . The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. He told her, I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over. And without missing a beat, Betty replied, Oh, I hope so. I am one bad ass bitch. White died on Friday, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday, news that prompted a look back on a career that included advocacy on many fronts. The show. Background [ edit] The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. You never ask me out," per People. Her response: "I'm sorry. Tap dancer Arthur Duncan was first introduced to national audiences by Betty White in 1954 before making history as the first Black performer on The Lawrence Welk Show. You never call, responded White. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show.Betty responded with Im sorry. . She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. 65 Backyard . Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. "I was on the show and they had letters from Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there," Duncan recalled said in a 2017 interview onSteve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". Arthur Duncan. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. He was a 13-year-old student when he joined the dance quartet at McKinley Junior High School and began studying under renowned choreographer Nick Castle. Betty White In Person (1987). And it was never a question at all.. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. ]); In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . Supervising Producer, Yahoo Entertainment, Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of, It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. cat: 'entertainment', This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. When Harvey asked what Duncan thought about seeing White again, he jokedGod, I think I am ready to go now., Sports world reacts: Athletes, sports celebrities recall 'national treasure' Betty White, Celebrities mourn loss: Robert Redford shares his affection for Betty White, 'I had a crush on her, too! url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. When The Betty White Show was rolled out on TV channels across the US, many stations and viewers in southern US states threatened to boycott the show unless Arthur Duncan was removed owing to the segregation laws and attitudes towards race that were prevalent at the time. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. If White, 99, had it her way, she would have remained at her longtime marital home in Carmel, which she first built with her late husband, Allen Ludden, when they bought the land in 1978. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. 1956) . There was even a regular childrens segment. And there was Duncan. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. subcat: '', Watch The Betty White Show (November 29th, 1954) 1 Video 3 Photos Family Music Talk-Show Daytime show with Betty White talking to guests, singing with the orchestra, etc. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Privacy Policy You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. 3. You never ask me out.. I was on the show, and they had some letters out of Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there, Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2018 ahead of a surprise TV reunion with White. Have something to tell us about this article? BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. I was on the show, and they had some letters out of Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there, the then-83-year-old said. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. targeting: { It's been claimed that Duncan's fixed role on "The Betty White Show" as a singer and dancer meant he was the first Black American to have a regular appearance on a TV variety show. Entrepreneurs Summit Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. White explained the controversy in the documentary, "All through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didn't get rid of Arthur because he was Black," said White. "Los Angeles was more accessible." The show was the first big break for Duncan, then in his early 20s, he said in the 2018 documentary "Betty White, First Lady of Television.". Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. 1 of 2. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. White said she wasn't going to budge: Evidently through the South at that point it was a very heavy [thing], and I said, Im sorry, but he stays [] Live with it! White said. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her show because he was Black A file photo of Betty White. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. cat: 'entertainment', ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Betty imbued charm, wit, and sincerity at each and every turn, always ready to poke fun at herself and those around her, eager to uncover both the humanity in comedy and the comedy in humanity. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', And it was never a question at all," he recalled. aid: '769722', B.E. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. According to the 2020 book Betty White on TV, the show failed to attract sponsors and was cancelled on Dec. 31, 1954 despite a desperate plea by White to NBC execs. But his first performance was more than enough for Southern racists to threaten NBC with a boycott if he continued to be part of the lineup. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. "I'm sorry. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. , Facing the threat of boycotts across the South, White famously said, Im sorry but he stays Live with it!. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. Duncan's . Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS He said it was White who gave him his break. pos: 'right_rail_2', Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. Sales Partnership Solutions The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasn't universally popular at all. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. R.I.P. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Registry of Corporate Directors. tude.cmd.push(function() { Arthur Duncan, a gifted dancer whose appearance on one of Betty White's early TV shows prompted a showdown between southern censors and White, died January 4. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. pos: 'right_rail_3', Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". INFORMATION In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. She pledged her support for same-sex marriage, saying, If a couple has been together all that time and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones I think its fine if they want to get married. Additionally, she didnt understand how some people could be anti-something. She was a proponent of minding her business, standing up for the oppressed, and carving her unique place in the culture through entertainment. Duncan went on to become the first Black regular on a variety show when he was hired on 'The Lawrence Welk Show' and he continued on that show for another 20 years. Not only had she been one of the first women to helm her own show on television, but she also laid the groundwork for how women could assert their agency in a landscape that was still dismissive of their talent and power. This article was published more than1 year ago. After MLKs home was bombed, he refused to back down: This movement will not stop, The brave, forgotten Kansas lunch counter sit-in that helped change America, Sam Howell is the Commanders first-string QB for now, Nationals relievers see benefit in tinkering with new pitches, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. ). } (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080" }).render("8791f6495fab447280f16fc61516a837"); }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; That solved everything at the time.. When Steve Harvey asked Arthur what it was like to see his old friend, he joked, Im ready to go now. But before God could take him, Arthur wanted to catch up with Betty first. (Video: Reuters). When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes ', 'What could be better than show business? She is older than Mickey Mouse. See when we celebrated Betty Whites 95th birthday with our 5 fave TV appearances: Steve Harveys Hilarious Version of Ray Charless Georgia on My Mind, 8-Year-Old Girl Tries to Take Steve Harveys Hosting Job, George Lopez Schools Steve Harvey During Celebrity Family Feud. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . Live with . When asked why she was risking her livelihood to defend a Black man, she said, Im sorry, but he staysLive with it, as per People. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. There's no knowing if her putting her foot down on Duncan staying on had any role in the show being repeatedly rescheduled for different time slots before eventually being taken off the air that same year. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. The beloved actress was preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday with a big televised special that will still air despite her passing only a few weeks before the age . 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. page_type: 'article', Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. as well as other partner offers and accept our. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. Duncan went on to have alustrouscareer inshow business and gained fame for being the first Black performer on The Lawrence Welk Show,according to The Library of Congress. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. Arthur Duncan was a tap dancer and singer known for his regular appearances on "The Betty White Show" and "The Lawrence Welk Show." Died: January 4, 2023 ( Who else died on January 4? As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Following his breakthrough performances on variety shows, Arthur Duncan was invited to be part of Bob Hopes troupe of performers to tour US military bases and was the first African-American to do so. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Are you going to go house to house?. } . . . You never call. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. targeting: { He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. subcat: '', But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', CNN . Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 Championed by Betty White at the start of his career, he became one of the first Black regulars on a TV variety show. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. "I'm. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Management Subscribe to Newsletter White made a career playing sweet characters with hidden and hilarious grit, and that quality goes all the way back to her first televised variety show, where, as the host and producer, she defied racist demands to get rid of Duncan because he was Black. Jan 1, 2022. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. A colleague. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Tell us what you think! The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. 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One particular way in which Ms. White refused to bow to systemic racism was by insisting Arthur Duncan, a Black dancer, remain on her 1950s show, The Betty White Show.. A tap dancer with remarkable skill, Arthur Duncan was the first African American to be hired as a series regular on the variety shows of early television. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. Television was still a new medium, but White was already a veteran performer of stage and radio, had acted on a sitcom and had co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh.