Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. 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. 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. 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. Be like Betty White. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. 1937) Elwood . 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. 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. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. And it was never a question at all.. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. subcat: '', The show. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', When Steve Harvey asked Arthur what it was like to see his old friend, he joked, Im ready to go now. But before God could take him, Arthur wanted to catch up with Betty first. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. 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. It was the first award in an entirely new category. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. 1 of 2. "I did something a little. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. You never call, responded 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. (Video: Reuters). The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. Rest well, Betty. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at [email protected] and [email protected] with details and it will be promptly removed. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. 3. Betty White: . The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Listen to Betty White. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. 1956) . B.E. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. } She also told her critics to "live with it.". Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the 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. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. 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. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . A colleague. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. "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.". 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. 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. env: 'prod', The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 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. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. Stay up to date with what you want to know. He was 97. You never ask me out.. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. Sign up for notifications from Insider! When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . Email: [email protected]. But this story is true. He said it was White who gave him his break. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. She also starred in and produced The Betty. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. 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. 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. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. cat: 'entertainment', She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. 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,. 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. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. 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. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. pos: 'right_rail_1', R.I.P. You never call. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. 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. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. This soon led to the show's cancellation. ]); Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. This article was published more than1 year ago. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Supervising Producer, Yahoo Entertainment, Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of, It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" as well as other partner offers and accept our. "I'm ready to go now," he said. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. ]); (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . 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. 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. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. 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. After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Registry of Corporate Directors. 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. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 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. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Some facts about Betty White . She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Betty White In Person (1987). The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Jan 1, 2022. pos: 'right_rail_3', You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. . In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. ', 'What could be better than show business? 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 . However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. "I'm. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. . White . Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. 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. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-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. Management Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. Entrepreneurs Summit But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. env: 'prod', The show was canceled soon after. Privacy Policy Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. 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. targeting: { 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. Black Men XCEL 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? When Bea Arthur left The Golden . At the time, she faced criticism for including African-American actor Arthur Duncan in the series, and refused to remove him from the show despite a loss in ratings. Betty imbued charm, wit, and sincerity at each and every turn, always ready to poke fun at herself and those around her, eager to uncover both the humanity in comedy and the comedy in humanity. page_type: 'article', On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. 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 . NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. 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. . 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. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Are you going to go house to house?. } on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. 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. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. 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. About ]); 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. Tell us what you think! 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. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. 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. 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. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . 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.
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