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. NBC first aired in 1954. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. There was even a regular childrens segment. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. 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. 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. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS This material may not be reproduced without permission. 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. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Pen Griffey Jr. on Twitter: "Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . } Betty White turns 99 this weekend, as former co-stars sing her praises 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. 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. 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. subcat: '', And it was never a question at all.. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry 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,. And there was Duncan. Fans mourn Betty White on social media - ajc 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Listen to Betty White. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan 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. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. You never ask me out," per People. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. } After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White Show (1954) | Tap Dance 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. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. aid: '769722', But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. R.I.P. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. 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. (Video: Reuters). targeting: { The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. It was the first award in an entirely new category. 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! Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. 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. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. 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. 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. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. 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'. }); !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); Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. Arthur Duncan, Trailblazing Dancer for Betty White, Lawrence Welk, Dies Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. cat: 'entertainment', 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. You never call, responded White. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. 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. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. 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. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. You never call. You never call. National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture Are you going to go house to house?. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. 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. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go on In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan - iFunny So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? . 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. This soon led to the show's cancellation. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. 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. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Now she wants restitution. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. Her show was cancelled afterwards. 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. 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! 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. You never call. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. Betty White kept Black dancer Arthur Duncan on show despite - Bossip Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. Arthur Duncan - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube Betty White refused to remove Black dancer on her show in 1954 - USA TODAY Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. Duncan credits White for starting his career. 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. 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. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. . Betty White Helped Launch Career of Black Tap Dancer in 1950s - Peoplemag env: 'prod', Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. pos: 'right_rail_1', 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. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Sales Partnership Solutions The show was canceled soon after. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. 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. 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. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. Betty White - Wikipedia 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. Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. Duncan's . Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. }); EVENTS And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. "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. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes He is a Black Tap Dancer. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. 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, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', A Look at All of Betty White's Homes - House Beautiful Black Men XCEL 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. 1. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. 65 Backyard . (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. BE 100s Betty White, 99, gives health update in rare interview after fans fear White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . Subscribe to Newsletter baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The Powerful Story Behind Betty White's Refusal to Remove a Black Management She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. 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. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. Arthur Duncan From 'Lawrence Welk' Thanks Betty White For His Career Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. From left to right: Arthur Duncan, director Dean Hargrove, actor Norman LLoyd, and cinematographer Stephen Poster at a screening of, Arthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys, how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner, the first African-American photographers and their portraits. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. . The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. env: 'prod', 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. 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. 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. Women of Power Summit She also told her critics to "live with it.". A movie event planned prior to her death to . 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. Betty White spent final days in home she didn't want to live in Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. 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. Betty White served as both host and producer. 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. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center on Twitter Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.
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