Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. INFORMATION Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. Arthur said, "She . 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. Getty Images. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. The show was canceled soon after. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. 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. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. "I did something a little. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. In a 2018 documentary honoring Bettys illustrious career, Arthur said, I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, in television. Betty herself wasnt blind to the outrage, but she wouldnt let the commotion, or as she said, the ruckus sway her in the least. 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. }); !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); Black Men XCEL 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Duncan credits White for starting his career. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . You never ask me out." But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . ABOUT She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. 1 of 2. This article was published more than1 year ago. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. 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. 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. In 1957, Duncan joined Bob Hope's troupe touring U.S. military bases, making him the first African American to be part of that 100-member group. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. 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 SistersInc. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. You never call. 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. ]); } pos: 'right_rail_1', "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," said Duncan during an episode of 'Steve Harvey's Little Big Shots: Forever Young' in 2017. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. 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. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". This soon led to the show's cancellation. 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. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. pos: 'right_rail_2', Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. } kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. ). Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. 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. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . 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. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. targeting: { You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. 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. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. Subscribe to Newsletter The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. 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. Nick Castle Jr. had become a director and asked Duncan to dance his 1989 film Tap, starring Sammy Davis Jr. Duncan obliged, but his accolades didnt end there. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. That solved everything at the time.. 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. , Facing the threat of boycotts across the South, White famously said, Im sorry but he stays Live with it!. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. You never ask me out," per People. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety 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. He is a Black Tap Dancer. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. ]); tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. 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. Sales Partnership Solutions . Oborfacts What can i say? So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. "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 this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. 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.. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. 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. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. subcat: '', The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. ', 'What could be better than show business? As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. 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. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. tude.cmd.push(function() { After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. 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.. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 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.. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. 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. Arthur Duncan. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. targeting: { [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. 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. "Los Angeles was more accessible." However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS She even had a regular childrens segment. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to 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. 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. He was 97. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. cat: 'entertainment', "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. 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. 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. 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. 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. 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 . (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) 2. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. "I'm ready to go now," he said. Entrepreneurs Summit Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. 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. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 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-2', The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. 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. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. }); EVENTS She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. "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. 65 Backyard . When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. She also starred in and produced The Betty. We wouldnt have been the same. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. In a heartening example of life coming full circle, 55-year-old Arthur Duncan was still tap-dancing when the son of his former mentor approached him with a project. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. 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. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. 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. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. You never call, responded White. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. . She is older than Mickey Mouse. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. 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. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. 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. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. "I was on the show and they had letters from Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there," Duncan recalled said in a 2017 interview onSteve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS And it was never a question at all.. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. } 3. Live. 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. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. White . It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. Registry of Corporate Directors. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 1956) . The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. . Betty White In Person (1987). Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. White died on Friday, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday, news that prompted a look back on a career that included advocacy on many fronts. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning 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,. The show. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . But this story is true. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. 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. He Was Fatally Beaten by Memphis Police Now People Around the World Are Sharing #SunsetsForTyre in His Honor, 41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart, The Empowering Truth Behind John Cena and Dwayne The Rock Johnsons Feud, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally Have a Few Things to Say About 20 Years of Marriage and We Should Listen, How the Boy From the Success Kid Meme Helped Raise Over $100,000 to Save His Dads Life, Actress Goes to Pick Up Her Car From Valet Parking Finds an Insulting Note on the Ticket That Mortifies Her, Strangers Spring Into Action to Save a Driver in Crisis on a Busy Road [VIDEO], 8-Year-Old Finds Out His Favorite Waffle House Waiter Is Hiding a Secret Doesnt Hesitate to Raise $64,000 for Him, White Woman Refuses to Listen to Dad After He Forbid Her From Marrying a Black Man 60 Years Later, Theyre Still Together. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . 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. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. 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. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Be like Betty White. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. 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. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. } Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. aid: '769722', 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. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy.