She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. Duncan performed alongside stars like actress Jayne Mansfield, singer Jerry Colonna, comedian Hedda Hopper, and the Les Brown orchestra in places like Pearl Harbor, Korea, Okinawa, and Guam. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. And it was never a question at all.. "I was on the show, and they had some letters out of Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there," said Duncan during an episode of 'Steve Harvey's Little Big Shots: Forever Young' in 2017. targeting: { This material may not be reproduced without permission. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. 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. Black Men XCEL As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. 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. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. ]); Background [ edit] Live with . She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. } It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. 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. Betty White was one of a kind, and no incident highlights that better than her refusing to give in to demands for a Black dancer to be removed from her show in the 50s. Betty White served as both host and producer. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. 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! 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. 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', It's been claimed that Duncan's fixed role on "The Betty White Show" as a singer and dancer meant he was the first Black American to have a regular appearance on a TV variety show. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. } However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . 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 said it was White who gave him his break. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. Live. 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. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. 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. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. 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 . Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. } Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. cat: 'entertainment', on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. 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.". 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. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. } Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. 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. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. page_type: 'article', Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. 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. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. 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. Are you going to go house to house?. 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 . The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. Some facts about Betty White . env: 'prod', 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.. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. subcat: '', pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. Her show was cancelled afterwards. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. }); EVENTS So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Betty White: . } Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. tude.cmd.push(function() { Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. 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'. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . 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. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. tude.cmd.push(function() { You never ask me out.. CNN . 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. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', 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. } 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. 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. 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 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. Oborfacts What can i say? INFORMATION 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. (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: [] }; 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. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. 2. 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. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. aid: '769722', Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. She also told her critics to "live with it.". GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. Management He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. Rest well, Betty. Arthur said, "She . So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. 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. 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. You never ask me out." In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" 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. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Listen to Betty White. 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,. There was even a regular childrens segment. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Sign up for notifications from Insider! One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career.
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