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Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First 2. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. tude.cmd.push(function() { She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. Some facts about Betty White . We wouldnt have been the same. Rest well, Betty. pos: 'right_rail_1', aid: '769722', Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. Arthur Duncan, One Of The First Black Regulars On American Television In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. Pen Griffey Jr. on Twitter: "Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White 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. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. 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. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. 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. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. 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. Arthur Duncan - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . Oborfacts What can i say? 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. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes - House Beautiful She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Betty White In Person (1987). By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. 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. Have something to tell us about this article? 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. You never ask me out." tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. Betty White, 99, gives health update in rare interview after fans fear divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. White . Entrepreneurs Summit But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. 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. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. 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.. 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. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. You never call. Privacy Policy tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. Betty White, whose more than 80-year career included Emmy-winning roles on sitcoms "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died on Dec. 31. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. Betty White insisted on Black dancer for her 1950s show Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. 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. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. 4. "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. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. "I did something a little. That solved everything at the time.. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go on I am one bad ass bitch. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. Betty White, veteran actress who starred in The Golden Girls, dies Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. 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. 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. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. subcat: '', (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. Background [ edit] There was even a regular childrens segment. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. 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. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. . Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" It has since been updated. Betty White: . GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White dead: 'SNL,' Robert Redford, Anderson Cooper mourn - USA TODAY tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. aid: '769722', People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. 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. 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. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. Betty White refused to remove Black dancer on her show in 1954 - USA TODAY Betty White served as both host and producer. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. 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. 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. Are you going to go house to house?. R.I.P. 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. page_type: 'article', ', 'What could be better than show business? Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. (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: [] }; About Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. 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. 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? She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. The Betty White Show (1952 TV series) - Wikipedia After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. . Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. Arthur Duncan, Barrier-Breaking Tap Dancer, Is Dead at 97 Duncan's . div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. 15 Glorious Photos of Betty White When She Was Young - Prevention 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 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. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. 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. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . 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. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. Duncan credits White for starting his career. 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 was criticized after having Arthur Duncan - iFunny I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 3. 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. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia 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. You never ask me out," per People. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Primetime Emmy-dj a legjobb ni fszereplnek (vgjtksorozat) kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. 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 by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. You never call, responded White. Betty White's Life in Photos - Peoplemag 1 of 2. This was in 1954. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. The show. Her show was canceled soon after. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. 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 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. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. 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. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Betty White obituary | US television | The Guardian Live with . She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. 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. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. But this story is true. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. page_type: 'article', Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . 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. Women of Power Summit According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. Arthur Duncan obituary: tap dancer dies at 97 - Legacy.com Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". And it was never a question at all..