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. env: 'prod', pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. 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. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. as well as other partner offers and accept our. After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Tai Saint-Louis January 2, 2022 6442 Arthur Duncan and Betty White, reunited by Steve Harvey As the world mourns actress and comedienne Betty White, who passed away on Dec. 31, many are. 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. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. SistersInc. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . This, along with his earlier inclusion (despite objections) on The Betty White Show in 1954 and with the help of White herself, made him the first African-American regular on a . 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. "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. NBC first aired in 1954. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. He said it was White who gave him his break. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. 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. Betty White: . Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. 2. She also told her critics to "live with it.". The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. He was 97. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. 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. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. . According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Be like Betty White. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. You never call, responded White. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. 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. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. 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. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. Live. 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. And there was Duncan. Registry of Corporate Directors. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', "I'm ready to go now," he said. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. His reply to her that they would be performing at local hospitals and orphanages was as wholesome as the beloved actress and entertainer, who died this week at 99. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. I am one bad ass bitch. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. 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. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. 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? Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Sign up for notifications from Insider! INFORMATION The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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 served as both host and producer. page_type: 'article', ]); 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. Her show was cancelled afterwards. A colleague. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', After being born in Pasadena, California in September 1933, Arthur Duncan took his first steps in the performing world at the age of just 13 and after a brief spell studying pharmacy, returned to the world of showbusiness in his early 20s. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. 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. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . page_type: 'article', This soon led to the show's cancellation. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. 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. Duncan credits White for starting his career. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . CNN . That solved everything at the time.. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. 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,. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. tude.cmd.push(function() { "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" 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. He told her, I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over. And without missing a beat, Betty replied, Oh, I hope so. 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 soon moved on to The Lawrence Welk Show in 1964, where he was introduced every week until 1982 as the man whos keeping tap dancing alive.. cat: 'entertainment', 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. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. Duncan's . . Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080" }).render("8791f6495fab447280f16fc61516a837"); }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. 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. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. 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. 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. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Arthur Duncan. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. 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. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', "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. Sales Partnership Solutions env: 'prod', 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. 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. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. 3. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. You never ask me out." 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. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954.