I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. I am one bad ass bitch. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. 0. The show was canceled soon after. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. Sales Partnership Solutions Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. cat: 'entertainment', 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 . Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes 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. 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. 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 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 . After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Contact Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. 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. 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 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 3. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. R.I.P. You never call. 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. "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. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. "I did something a little. 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. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Television was still a new medium, but White was already a veteran performer of stage and radio, had acted on a sitcom and had co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Duncan's . 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. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Management Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. 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. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. . And it was never a question at all.. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. 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. aid: '769722', 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. 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, the then-83-year-old said. We wouldnt have been the same. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. INFORMATION div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. And there was Duncan. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. Getty Images. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', pos: 'right_rail_1', Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. NBC first aired in 1954. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. 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. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. When Harvey asked what Duncan thought about seeing White again, he jokedGod, I think I am ready to go now., Sports world reacts: Athletes, sports celebrities recall 'national treasure' Betty White, Celebrities mourn loss: Robert Redford shares his affection for Betty White, 'I had a crush on her, too! There was even a regular childrens segment. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. ]); 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. 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.. 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'. Tell us what you think! But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. ]); Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. B.E. Sign up for notifications from Insider! "I'm sorry. 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. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . 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.. You never ask me out.. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. Betty White In Person (1987). Rest well, Betty. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 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,. . 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. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider . Jan 1, 2022. This soon led to the show's cancellation. env: 'prod', But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. "Los Angeles was more accessible." aid: '769722', Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). And Duncan had not only managed to build a professional career out of his art but had become so renowned that Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Cotton Club in 1984. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Arthur Duncan, a gifted dancer whose appearance on one of Betty White's early TV shows prompted a showdown between southern censors and White, died January 4. . divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Women of Power Summit baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. 1. ABOUT 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. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. subcat: '', aid: '769722', Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. He typically performed one solo routine per episode, scored by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, but also frequently danced with peers Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel. "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. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. 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. A colleague. 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 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. 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. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. She also told her critics to "live with it.". That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. You never ask me out.. After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. That solved everything at the time.. "I'm. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" 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. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. 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. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. 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. page_type: 'article', env: 'prod', Be like Betty White. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. 2. Her show was canceled soon after. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. }); EVENTS She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young., Here are some of her greatest career moments, Athletes, sports celebrities recall 'national treasure' Betty White, Robert Redford shares his affection for Betty White, 'I had a crush on her, too! 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. This was in 1954. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . } } The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. Registry of Corporate Directors. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Privacy Policy 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.
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