"I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. 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. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', env: 'prod', He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. (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: [] }; 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 The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. 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. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. The beloved actress was preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday with a big televised special that will still air despite her passing only a few weeks before the age . In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. White . And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. 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. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. 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. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. She even had a regular childrens segment. . After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. "I'm. 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. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. 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. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. A movie event planned prior to her death to . pos: 'right_rail_1', Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', SistersInc. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 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'. . subcat: '', "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. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. 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. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . She is older than Mickey Mouse. . R.I.P. } Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. 0. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. 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. Be like Betty White. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety 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. Arthur Chester Duncan (September 25, 1925 - January 4, 2023) was an American tap dancer, also called an "Entertainer's Entertainer," known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. Betty White: . (Video: Reuters). 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. She also starred in and produced The Betty. 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. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 Championed by Betty White at the start of his career, he became one of the first Black regulars on a TV variety show. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Background [ edit] Have something to tell us about this article? 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. 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. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. She pledged her support for same-sex marriage, saying, If a couple has been together all that time and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones I think its fine if they want to get married. Additionally, she didnt understand how some people could be anti-something. She was a proponent of minding her business, standing up for the oppressed, and carving her unique place in the culture through entertainment. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . You never ask me out," per People. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. 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 . 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. 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. He was a 13-year-old student when he joined the dance quartet at McKinley Junior High School and began studying under renowned choreographer Nick Castle. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. 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. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . as well as other partner offers and accept our. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . } However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Betty White served as both host and producer. Tell us what you think! baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The show was the first big break for Duncan, then in his early 20s, he said in the 2018 documentary "Betty White, First Lady of Television.". That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Betty White In Person (1987). But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. 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. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. tude.cmd.push(function() { Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. The show was canceled soon after. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. "I'm sorry. Women of Power Summit Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. NBC first aired in 1954. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. 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. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . 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. 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. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. 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. 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. . So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. INFORMATION Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. It has since been updated. 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. 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. . BETTY White has updated fans on her health in rare interview after fans fear for the beloved Golden Girl ahead of 100th birthday.The actress, 99, crep . 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. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. This was in 1954. 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. 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', }); EVENTS divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', } 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. Getty Images. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. targeting: { According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even 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.