In the early 1950s, White faced criticism for featuring Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer and singer, on a few episodes of her variety talk show The Betty White Show.. (Video: Reuters). This soon led to the show's cancellation. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . 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. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 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. page_type: 'article', Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Be like Betty White. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. 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. subcat: '', pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Subscribe to Newsletter page_type: 'article', 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. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. ]); White was briefly married to U.S. army pilot Dick Barker in 1945.Two years later, White wed Hollywood agent Lane Allen, whom she divorced in 1949. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. . ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', ', 'What could be better than show business? The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. You never ask me out.. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { SistersInc. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. Her show was canceled soon after. 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. subcat: '', But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it." The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Arthur Duncan. Her show was cancelled afterwards. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). Betty White served as both host and producer. cat: 'entertainment', env: 'prod', } The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider A pioneer of early television with a career spanning almost seven decades, she was noted for her vast body of work in entertainment and for being one of the first women to work both in front of and behind the camera. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" Live with . Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. Duncan was already a regular on the show which featured performances by White and others, interviews, skits and even a kids segment before it was added to NBCs national lineup in 1954. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. She hired a Black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, for "The Betty White Show" in 1954, a full three years before the first federal civil-rights legislation since Reconstruction was passed,. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. 29K views 1 year ago Arthur Duncan (born September 25, 1933) is an American tap dancer, known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982, which, along with his. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. They were going to take our show off the air if we didnt get rid of Arthur, because he was Black., People in the South resented me being on the show, and they wanted me thrown out, Duncan agreed. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. Randy Shropshire/Getty ImagesFrom left to right: Arthur Duncan, director Dean Hargrove, actor Norman LLoyd, and cinematographer Stephen Poster at a screening of Tap World in Los Angeles, California, in 2015. Entrepreneurs Summit 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. However, it was during an appearance on Steve Harveys show Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017 that Duncan felt truly blessed when Betty White surprised him onstage. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', White . The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. 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. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. 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. Betty knew she wasnt some prominent politician or royalty she was merely a television actress but she was still extremely self-aware of her influence on the country. aid: '769722', targeting: { BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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. That solved everything at the time.. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. "I did something a little. 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. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. } In 2017, Arthur Duncan was reunited with Betty White on Little Big Shots: Forever Young (pictured above) and later in 2018, contributed to PBSs Betty White: First Lady of Television documentary film. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. 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. I am one bad ass bitch. She didnt have an idea of the extent to which it would enrage her market, yet the collective furor didnt crush her spirit or change her mind. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. . . 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. White, a boundary-breaking television star by 1952, then became the first woman to produce a sitcom, Life with Elizabeth, which she also starred in. 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. subcat: '', } According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. 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,. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . Arthur Chester Duncan (September 25, 1925 - January 4, 2023) was an American tap dancer, also called an "Entertainer's Entertainer," known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', ABOUT 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. At a time when racial segregation was at boiling point, there were strong calls from different quarters to remove a tap dancer named Arthur Duncan from her show. As the world mourns actress and comedienneBetty White, who passed away on Dec. 31, many are discovering or being reminded of the way she broke TV barriers with tap dancerArthur Duncan. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. . env: 'prod', The first TV show I had ever been on, and I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, in television, he said. And there was Duncan. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', From left to right: Arthur Duncan, director Dean Hargrove, actor Norman LLoyd, and cinematographer Stephen Poster at a screening of, Arthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys, how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner, the first African-American photographers and their portraits. The almost-centenarian was an icon in every sense of the word: with a career spanning eighty years, she marked a turning point for women in entertainment. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. But this story is true. Registry of Corporate Directors. 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. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . She even had a regular childrens segment. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, "The Betty White Show." Rating: True About this rating Betty White, also. How Gabriel Prosser Planned What Would Have Been The Largest Slave Rebellion In American History, Meet The Ken And Barbie Killers: Paul Bernardo And Karla Homolka, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Her response: "I'm sorry. At the time, she faced criticism for including African-American actor Arthur Duncan in the series, and refused to remove him from the show despite a loss in ratings. Betty White, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland Star, Dead at 99 During the Little Big Shots episode, Harvey surprised Duncan by bringing White on the show to catch up with her old. This material may not be reproduced without permission. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. 4. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. When encouraged to take Arthur Duncan off the air, White, then in her 30s, said: "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," per the Post. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. 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. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99.
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