Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { It has since been updated. 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. 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. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. Duncan gave Underwood flowers to congratulate her return to tap dancing.In 2020, Duncan was inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame of the American Tap Dance Foundation. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. You never ask me out," per People. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. Not one to waste an opportunity, White immediately set about hiring Duncan to dance on The Betty White Show, which aired on NBC in Los Angeles. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. He soon moved on to The Lawrence Welk Show in 1964, where he was introduced every week until 1982 as the man whos keeping tap dancing alive.. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Arthur said, "She . According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. He said it was White who gave him his break. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. This material may not be reproduced without permission. The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. 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. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. Betty White: . BETTY White has updated fans on her health in rare interview after fans fear for the beloved Golden Girl ahead of 100th birthday.The actress, 99, crep . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. 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. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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? That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Women of Power Summit Duncan credits White for starting his career. ). ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. 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. 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. 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. 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. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. 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, recalled Duncan. } When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. "In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show," The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center tweeted after her death. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Stars Betty White George Tibbles Dick Cathcart See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 2 User reviews Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy 1 nomination total Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 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 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 Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. ABOUT I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. Oborfacts What can i say? 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. (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: [] }; This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. That solved everything at the time.. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. You never call, responded White. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. targeting: { It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. Privacy Policy There was even a regular childrens segment. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. 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. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. env: 'prod', Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on TV, even though the color of his skin was a real problem for some people. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Whats more intriguing is that this wasnt Bettys sole act of defiance within the show; she interviewed a Black child on the special when it was considered controversial to do so. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. 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. 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. With Betty White's passing at the age of 99, this internet meme about White refusing to ban Arthur Duncan, an African American dancer, from the cast of her television variety show in 1954, is getting wide circulation. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . She also told her critics to "live with it.". But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) }); !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. . NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. Shed been a progressive since day one, and its because of people like her that we were able to delegitimize hateful sentiments that had dominated the country in those years. Contact White . 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. ]); But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? pos: 'right_rail_3', If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at Reelblack@mail.com and info@reelblack.com with details and it will be promptly removed. 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. B.E. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. INFORMATION Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. 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.. 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. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. Getty Images. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. CNN . But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. aid: '769722', 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. "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. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. 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 earlier inclusion (despite Southern objections) on the 1954 Betty White Show, made him the first African-American regular on variety television programs.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.He later entered Pasadena City College to study pharmacy, but left to pursue a career in show business, touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and The Betty White Show. 2. This soon led to the show's cancellation. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Betty White, whose more than 80-year career included Emmy-winning roles on sitcoms "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died on Dec. 31. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Live with . And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. When letters started coming from Mississippi and elsewhere demanding Arthurs removal, Betty simply wrote back saying, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. It wasnt a matter of finding a compromise or trying to understand the other sides perspective; she wanted to trust her gut and do the right thing, protest be damned. 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. Its unclear whether her decision to keep Duncan affected the shows fate, but it was repeatedly rescheduled for different time slots before quietly being taken off the air that same year. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. targeting: { url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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. pos: 'right_rail_1', ]); Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. Her show was cancelled afterwards. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. 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. It was the first award in an entirely new category. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. If Betty White was able to extend so much love and admiration to everyone shed come across over the years, anyone can do the same. See, back in 1954 Betty White served as the host and producer of The Betty White Show, a comedic variety show that was geared toward families and entertainment. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', She even had a regular childrens segment. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View.
