Black Men XCEL Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. 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. "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. 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. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. tude.cmd.push(function() { And it was never a question at all," he recalled. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. 3. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. Betty White: 8 Fascinating Things To Know About Her Life And Work Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Arthur Duncan - Wikipedia Betty White spent final days in home she didn't want to live in . Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. "I'm. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Betty White In Person (1987). After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer 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. She hired a Black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, for "The Betty White Show" in 1954, a full three years before the first federal civil-rights legislation since Reconstruction was passed,. Betty White kept Black dancer Arthur Duncan on show despite - Bossip 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. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Subscribe to Newsletter 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. 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. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. 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. 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,. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. Betty White - Wikipedia Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. 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. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. "I did something a little. pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. SistersInc. The show was canceled soon after. 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. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. 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. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it." The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Was Betty White Slammed for Having Black Tap Dancer Arthur Duncan on Betty White served as both host and producer. 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. 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. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . subcat: '', Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. R.I.P. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion env: 'prod', The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. . Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. BE 100s Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. A colleague. 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. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. cat: 'entertainment', Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. 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. 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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. 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. } 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.. It has since been updated. 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. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. 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!. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . 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. 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 the 1950s, representation on television was still a controversial subject, and the gatekeepers of the industry werent even keen on having women run shows. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. Betty White Photos: See 48 Photos of Hollywood's Golden Girl Through Women of Power Summit Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Betty White insisted on Black dancer for her 1950s show [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. aid: '769722', Sales Partnership Solutions Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. 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. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. } Betty White: . Arthur Duncan on The Betty White Show (1954) | Tap Dance White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at Reelblack@mail.com and info@reelblack.com with details and it will be promptly removed. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. "I'm ready to go now," he said. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan 1. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. He is a Black Tap Dancer. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. env: 'prod', The Betty White Show (1952 TV series) - Wikipedia 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', } Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. You never call, responded White. Some facts about Betty White . But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. 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. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. Arthur Duncan obituary: tap dancer dies at 97 - Legacy.com Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. You never ask me out." Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. 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. White was briefly married to U.S. army pilot Dick Barker in 1945.Two years later, White wed Hollywood agent Lane Allen, whom she divorced in 1949. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. 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. 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 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. 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. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', You never ask me out," per People. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. ). When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. 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. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. 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. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career Contact The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. 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. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. Betty White dead updates - Cause of death for Hollywood legend revealed Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. "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.". Betty White's Life in Photos - Peoplemag Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. 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. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Betty White turns 99 this weekend, as former co-stars sing her praises 1956) . Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. 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. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. page_type: 'article', How Betty White Lost Her Show After Standing Up To Racist Bullies This was in 1954. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . Rest well, Betty. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. Arthur said, "She . And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". 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. 15 Glorious Photos of Betty White When She Was Young - Prevention She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Registry of Corporate Directors. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on 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. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" 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. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. Now she wants restitution. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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.