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. 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. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. His reply to her that they would be performing at local hospitals and orphanages was as wholesome as the beloved actress and entertainer, who died this week at 99. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', . "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. Registry of Corporate Directors. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. And Duncan had not only managed to build a professional career out of his art but had become so renowned that Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Cotton Club in 1984. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" 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. Her show was canceled soon after. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. targeting: { Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. Arthur said, "She . 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. Oborfacts What can i say? Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . 1 of 2. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. You never call. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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!. White had already spent years trying to break into film and TV and eventually managed to become a co-host of the Hollywood on Film talk show in 1949 and left only to launch her own company. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. A colleague. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 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. ABOUT She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. 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. 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. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). } 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. 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. 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 . kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', . 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. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. Now she wants restitution. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. ]); When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. 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. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. You never call. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. 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Still, as the only Black cast member, the show also posed a unique risk to Duncan, according to dance historian Constance Valis Hill: In an era in which blacks and whites did not even hold hands, let alone kiss each other on nationally broadcast television programs, Duncan was often seen standing in the background, trying very hard not to look like he was with any of the women on the program.. "I'm ready to go now," he said. aid: '769722', Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. 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 was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. This material may not be reproduced without permission. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. 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. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. "I did something a little. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, The Betty White Show., Image Via Film screenshot/Wikimedia Commons. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . tude.cmd.push(function() { The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. 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 . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Throughout her life, she lent her support to myriad animal rights organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, The Morris Animal Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, and Actors and Others for Animals. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Entrepreneurs Summit But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. Her show was cancelled afterwards. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. Masthead, Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. 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. subcat: '', Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 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. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. CNN . Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. Arthur Duncan. The show. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. After appearing as a guest on the show, Lawrence Welk offered Duncan a permanent spot as a member of his \"musical family.\"The 1989 film Tap featured Duncan in a cameo appearance with other famous tap dancers.In 2004 Duncan was honored at the annual \"Tap Extravaganza\" in New York City.In 2006, Duncan was honored for his contributions to tap dance at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival.In 2017, Duncan appeared on the series premiere episode of the reality talent series Little Big Shots: Forever Young, where he performed a dance and reunited with actress Betty White.In 2018, Duncan made an appearance on The Talk as part of a surprise for co-host Sheryl Underwood who performed a tap dance routine with Savion Glover as part of the show's New Year's Evolution. Tell us what you think! She had helped secure his first television job on her variety show 'The Betty White Show' and wasn't going to give in to the mob even if there was considerable opposition to it. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. 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? The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. 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. 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. 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. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young., Here are some of her greatest career moments, Athletes, sports celebrities recall 'national treasure' Betty White, Robert Redford shares his affection for Betty White, 'I had a crush on her, too! In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. 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. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. 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. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. subcat: '', } Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. env: 'prod', 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. ]); 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. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. But this story is true. 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,. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. ). He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. page_type: 'article', Some facts about Betty White . She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. In the documentary, White described that all through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didnt get rid of Arthur because he was Black., Added Duncan: People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. We wouldnt have been the same. In the 1950s, representation on television was still a controversial subject, and the gatekeepers of the industry werent even keen on having women run shows. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Duncan credits White for starting his career. page_type: 'article', In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. B.E. 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. He is a Black Tap Dancer. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . "I'm. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. This was in 1954. cat: 'entertainment', That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', And it only escalated after NBC rolled out the show nationally, with Southern viewers threatening to boycott the network if White didnt remove Duncan from the lineup. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. 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. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. pos: 'right_rail_2', 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! 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. You never ask me out.. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Be like Betty White. This soon led to the show's cancellation. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. 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. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. Live. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. tude.cmd.push(function() { In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . 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.
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