NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. 2. Arthur Duncan - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube This material may not be reproduced without permission. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. A colleague. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . 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 But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. 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.. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. aid: '769722', "I'm ready to go now," he said. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. 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. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. 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. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. pos: 'right_rail_2', It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. subcat: '', 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. cat: 'entertainment', He was 97. He typically performed one solo routine per episode, scored by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, but also frequently danced with peers Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel. CNN . The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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. You never call. . ]); - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Have something to tell us about this article? 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. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. When asked why she was risking her livelihood to defend a Black man, she said, Im sorry, but he staysLive with it, as per People. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. tude.cmd.push(function() { Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. You never call, responded White. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. }); !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); The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. 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 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. }); EVENTS From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? This was in 1954. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. Betty White, 99, gives health update in rare interview after fans fear 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, Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2018 ahead of a surprise TV reunion with White. 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. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sign up for notifications from Insider! So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', I did something a little different, Duncan told her. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . Background [ edit] The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', FLASHBACK: Lawrence Welk star Arthur Duncan credits Betty White for his As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. 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.. Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry 65 Backyard . Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. The Powerful Story Behind Betty White's Refusal to Remove a Black When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. Betty White's Life in Photos - Peoplemag It has since been updated. Her show was canceled soon after. You never call. 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. According to the 2020 book Betty White on TV, the show failed to attract sponsors and was cancelled on Dec. 31, 1954 despite a desperate plea by White to NBC execs. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. NBC first aired in 1954. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. Are you going to go house to house?. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. targeting: { div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Her response: "I'm sorry. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Sales Partnership Solutions As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First 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 was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. } She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. 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. "I did something a little. env: 'prod', There was even a regular childrens segment. 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in Duncan credits White for starting his career. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. pos: 'right_rail_1', But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. "I'm. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. 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. 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. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . Contact 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. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. 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. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. 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. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. B.E. 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!. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . You never ask me out.. 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. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. } Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. "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. 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. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. . He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Arthur Duncan. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. Betty White, veteran actress who starred in The Golden Girls, dies So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. 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. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. Tell us what you think! (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. 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.. 1956) . 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. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. tude.cmd.push(function() { Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. 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. 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. Subscribe to Newsletter The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. Duncan was featured 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. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Wikimedia CommonsBetty 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. subcat: '', He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. This was on The Lawrence Welk 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. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. 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. 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. Entrepreneurs Summit Arthur Duncan, Barrier-Breaking Tap Dancer, Is Dead at 97 pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. targeting: { 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. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. 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. 4. See, back in 1954 Betty White served as the host and producer of The Betty White Show, a comedic variety show that was geared toward families and entertainment. Live with . Arthur Duncan, Trailblazing Dancer for Betty White, Lawrence Welk, Dies Primetime Emmy-dj a legjobb ni fszereplnek (vgjtksorozat) A Look at All of Betty White's Homes - House Beautiful Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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.

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