(1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. 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. 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. env: 'prod', (Video: Reuters). Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. 2. 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. 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. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. There was even a regular childrens segment. } Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. 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. Be like Betty White. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. Privacy Policy The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. 1956) . 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. } The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . cat: 'entertainment', [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. ]); Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. 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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. Her show was cancelled afterwards. Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . aid: '769722', 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. A pioneer of early television with a career spanning almost seven decades, she was noted for her vast body of work in entertainment and for being one of the first women to work both in front of and behind the camera. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. 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. 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. Sales Partnership Solutions Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) INFORMATION Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Women of Power Summit Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. 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 Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. 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. Management 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. 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. Betty imbued charm, wit, and sincerity at each and every turn, always ready to poke fun at herself and those around her, eager to uncover both the humanity in comedy and the comedy in humanity. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. page_type: 'article', Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. 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. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Some facts about Betty White . Black Men XCEL #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . 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 comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. We wouldnt have been the same. You never call. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. Entrepreneurs Summit Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. Duncan's . . The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Her show was canceled soon after. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). . It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. 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 . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. } BE 100s kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Live with . 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. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' pos: 'right_rail_3', Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. 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. 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. 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. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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,. Betty White In Person (1987). } The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. 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. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. 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. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 3. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. . The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. She also starred in and produced The Betty. 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. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. 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. "I did something a little. 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. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 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. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Now she wants restitution. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. 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.. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. ]); White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. Have something to tell us about this article? Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Duncan credits White for starting his career. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. 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.". You never call. 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. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. 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. He was 97. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. She even had a regular childrens segment. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . 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 a 2018 documentary honoring Bettys illustrious career, Arthur said, I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, in television. Betty herself wasnt blind to the outrage, but she wouldnt let the commotion, or as she said, the ruckus sway her in the least. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. . Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. tude.cmd.push(function() { subcat: '', Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . 1 of 2. 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. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. cat: 'entertainment', 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. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. 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. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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? 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. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. (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: [] }; 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. . Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. 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