She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. White . "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Her response: "I'm sorry. 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. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. 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 Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. 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. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. 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. 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. cat: 'entertainment', Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. 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. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. 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,. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. 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. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. 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. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. 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.. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', At one point, the network threatened to take her off the air for having a Black man repeatedly appear on the show, but she wouldnt budge. She even had a regular childrens segment. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. 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. I am one bad ass bitch. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. 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. 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. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Have something to tell us about this article? 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. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. 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. (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: [] }; In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. 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. 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 first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. About } Entrepreneurs Summit 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. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. He is a Black Tap Dancer. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. 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. 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 told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Stay up to date with what you want to know. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . 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. pos: 'right_rail_1', 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. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. 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. 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. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. 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. "I'm ready to go now," he said. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. 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. Live with . "Los Angeles was more accessible." divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', When Bea Arthur left The Golden . 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. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. 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! Rest well, Betty. Sales Partnership Solutions "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. 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 Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. 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. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. Arthur said, "She . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Duncan credits White for starting his career. And it was never a question at all.. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. aid: '769722', url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', tude.cmd.push(function() { Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. 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. . 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. She is older than Mickey Mouse. 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,. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Women of Power Summit tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. 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. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on, Justin Timberlake posts sweet birthday message for 'dream of a partner' Jessica Biel, Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works'. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. 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 . He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. . A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. subcat: '', Betty White served as both host and producer. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . . "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. tude.cmd.push(function() { env: 'prod', Getty Images. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. aid: '769722', Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . A movie event planned prior to her death to . 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. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. 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. 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. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. You never ask me out.. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. That solved everything at the time.. 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. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. ', 'What could be better than show business? Oborfacts What can i say? Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . You never call. 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