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. He said it was White who gave him his break. 1937) Elwood . 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. } Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Her response: "I'm sorry. 1956) . Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Now she wants restitution. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. 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'. The show. 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. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. CNN . However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. Management Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 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. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. But this story is true. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. . It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. Women of Power Summit Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 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. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. Tell us what you think! She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. 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. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', env: 'prod', When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. 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.. 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. env: 'prod', That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. White . She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. 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. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. 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. In the documentary, White described that all through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didnt get rid of Arthur because he was Black., Added Duncan: People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. 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. ]); 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. Contact White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . 4. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. Have something to tell us about this article? 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. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. 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. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . 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. 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. 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. That solved everything at the time.. 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. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. 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. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. 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. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Today, many of us dont even comprehend the power she wielded, the significance she carried as the foremost Golden Girl of our zeitgeist, or how she unshakably fought to bring justice and diversity to our screens. You never call. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. BE 100s Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. targeting: { 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. NBC first aired in 1954. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. tude.cmd.push(function() { Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Betty White served as both host and producer. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. (Video: Reuters). In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. And there was Duncan. Registry of Corporate Directors. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Black Men XCEL The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. See, back in 1954 Betty White served as the host and producer of The Betty White Show, a comedic variety show that was geared toward families and entertainment. Entrepreneurs Summit Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. 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. "I did something a little. "I'm ready to go now," he said. 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. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. Not one to waste an opportunity, White immediately set about hiring Duncan to dance on The Betty White Show, which aired on NBC in Los Angeles. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. This material may not be reproduced without permission. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. As the world mourns actress and comedienneBetty White, who passed away on Dec. 31, many are discovering or being reminded of the way she broke TV barriers with tap dancerArthur Duncan. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. "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. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. Arthur said, 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. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. He was 97. 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. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Listen to Betty White. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. pos: 'right_rail_3', A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. There was even a regular childrens segment. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', "I'm. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. You never call, responded White. Betty White: . There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. 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.. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. 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 typically performed one solo routine per episode, scored by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, but also frequently danced with peers Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Subscribe to Newsletter By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. . Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . 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. 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.