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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. 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. targeting: { Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. Registry of Corporate Directors. 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. }); EVENTS So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. After initially becoming a ratings success, a controversy surrounding Arthur Duncan and repeated scheduling changes resulted in The Betty White Shows quiet cancellation by NBC who did not renew the show for more episodes according to WFMU. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. 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.". In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. 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. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . 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. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Background [ edit] When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. 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. . In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . 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. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. 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. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. This article was published more than1 year ago. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Today, many of us dont even comprehend the power she wielded, the significance she carried as the foremost Golden Girl of our zeitgeist, or how she unshakably fought to bring justice and diversity to our screens. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. "Los Angeles was more accessible." Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. 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. 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,. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Duncan's . Unfortunately, the show was canceled the same year, though its hard to say whether it was a direct result of the outcry or if interest was waning in general. This was in 1954. ', 'What could be better than show business? As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. "I'm sorry. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. . 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.. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. You never call. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Management This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. 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. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. The show was canceled soon after. I am one bad ass bitch. She even had a regular childrens segment. Listen to Betty White. After being born in Pasadena, California in September 1933, Arthur Duncan took his first steps in the performing world at the age of just 13 and after a brief spell studying pharmacy, returned to the world of showbusiness in his early 20s. 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 . 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. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . 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. 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. 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. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. 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. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. 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. 65 Backyard . White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. This soon led to the show's cancellation. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. 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. } 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. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. SistersInc. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. INFORMATION }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 1 of 2. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. 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. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Subscribe to Newsletter tude.cmd.push(function() { White continued to resist the pressurecoming from stations in the South and used Duncanmore, until the show was canceled in 1954 the same year segregationin public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KLAC-TV (now KCOP-TV) in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. Her show was canceled soon after. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. ]); White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Tai Saint-Louis January 2, 2022 6442 Arthur Duncan and Betty White, reunited by Steve Harvey As the world mourns actress and comedienne Betty White, who passed away on Dec. 31, many are. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', aid: '769722', Rest well, Betty. Although The Betty White Show was cancelled within a year due to low ratings due to NBC constantly changing its time slot, Arthur Duncans newfound national exposure led to invaluable new opportunities. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Entrepreneurs Summit But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. 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. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. 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. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. 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,. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. 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. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. 3. . Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) Arthur said, "She . targeting: { Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. Jan 1, 2022. 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. 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. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Arthur Duncan. 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. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. B.E. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. Betty White served as both host and producer. }); !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); And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Her show was cancelled afterwards. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. Black Men XCEL 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. Sales Partnership Solutions ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. env: 'prod', The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. env: 'prod', -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. (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: [] }; The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. subcat: '', A colleague. 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.. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk 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.