Getty Images. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. 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. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) tude.cmd.push(function() { } The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasn't universally popular at all. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. Betty White turns 99 this weekend, as former co-stars sing her praises Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', I am one bad ass bitch. Jan 1, 2022. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. ]); . "I'm sorry. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". ). div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. 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. Duncan's . 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. You never ask me out." There was even a regular childrens segment. . env: 'prod', And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. 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. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. 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. 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. Are you going to go house to house?. Background [ edit] tude.cmd.push(function() { Arthur Duncan - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube Betty White kept Black dancer Arthur Duncan on show despite - Bossip 4. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White Show (1954) | Tap Dance Pen Griffey Jr. on Twitter: "Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White . Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. 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,. 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. 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.. Some facts about Betty White . Duncan gave Underwood flowers to congratulate her return to tap dancing.In 2020, Duncan was inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame of the American Tap Dance Foundation. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. 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. Arthur Duncan. 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. 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. 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. Whats more intriguing is that this wasnt Bettys sole act of defiance within the show; she interviewed a Black child on the special when it was considered controversial to do so. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. 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,. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. You never call, responded White. 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. 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. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion 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. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. 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 Bea Arthur left The Golden . 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. Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan BE 100s 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. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. 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 December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. And there was Duncan. 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. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Women of Power Summit She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. 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. It was the first award in an entirely new category. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. 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. 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . 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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. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. 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 . And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? 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. 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. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia 1956) . 1937) Elwood . # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry 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. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. "I'm. 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. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. 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! NBC first aired 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . targeting: { Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . Stay up to date with what you want to know. Rest well, Betty. 2. INFORMATION But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. 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. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. }); EVENTS Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. He was 97. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. It has since been updated. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. , Facing the threat of boycotts across the South, White famously said, Im sorry but he stays Live with it!. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. "Los Angeles was more accessible." There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer ]); Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. env: 'prod', CNN . The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career Betty White spent final days in home she didn't want to live in According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. 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. Betty White: . Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. . 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. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. The Betty White Show (1952 TV series) - Wikipedia Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. "I'm ready to go now," he said. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. Entrepreneurs Summit tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. env: 'prod', Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Betty White - Wikipedia aid: '769722', ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. And it was never a question at all.. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. cat: 'entertainment', After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) Black Men XCEL This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { The show. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. targeting: { Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. She also starred in and produced The Betty. ', 'What could be better than show business? 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! Betty White dead: 'SNL,' Robert Redford, Anderson Cooper mourn - USA TODAY
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