betty white 1954 arthur duncan betty white 1954 arthur duncan

I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Betty White: . The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. 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. ]); She didnt have an idea of the extent to which it would enrage her market, yet the collective furor didnt crush her spirit or change her mind. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. "I was on the show and they had letters from Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there," Duncan recalled said in a 2017 interview onSteve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. 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. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; White . Be like Betty White. She is older than Mickey Mouse. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 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. 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. 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 just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? Are you going to go house to house?. 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. 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. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. ABOUT Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. 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. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at [email protected] and [email protected] with details and it will be promptly removed. Listen to Betty White. 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.. 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Jan 1, 2022. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" 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.. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. page_type: 'article', 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. 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. 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. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. (Video: Reuters). 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. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. . Live. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Getty Images. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. page_type: 'article', }); !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); 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. pos: 'right_rail_1', "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," said Duncan during an episode of 'Steve Harvey's Little Big Shots: Forever Young' in 2017. She also starred in and produced The Betty. "I'm. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. 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. Sales Partnership Solutions Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. 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 recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. 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. 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. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Rest well, Betty. 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 . ]); Her show was canceled soon after. 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. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . cat: 'entertainment', Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. 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. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. SistersInc. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. 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. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. targeting: { Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Oborfacts What can i say? Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . 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. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" 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! But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. After appearing as a guest on the show, Lawrence Welk offered Duncan a permanent spot as a member of his \"musical family.\"The 1989 film Tap featured Duncan in a cameo appearance with other famous tap dancers.In 2004 Duncan was honored at the annual \"Tap Extravaganza\" in New York City.In 2006, Duncan was honored for his contributions to tap dance at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival.In 2017, Duncan appeared on the series premiere episode of the reality talent series Little Big Shots: Forever Young, where he performed a dance and reunited with actress Betty White.In 2018, Duncan made an appearance on The Talk as part of a surprise for co-host Sheryl Underwood who performed a tap dance routine with Savion Glover as part of the show's New Year's Evolution. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. 1. 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. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. subcat: '', Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. } 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. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. cat: 'entertainment', With Betty White's passing at the age of 99, this internet meme about White refusing to ban Arthur Duncan, an African American dancer, from the cast of her television variety show in 1954, is getting wide circulation. This article was published more than1 year ago. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. 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. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. Randy Shropshire/Getty ImagesFrom left to right: Arthur Duncan, director Dean Hargrove, actor Norman LLoyd, and cinematographer Stephen Poster at a screening of Tap World in Los Angeles, California, in 2015. Management Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. aid: '769722', 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. tude.cmd.push(function() { Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. 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. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. Her response: "I'm sorry. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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 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. 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. There was even a regular childrens segment. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it." The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. You never ask me out.. 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 . Email: [email protected]. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. 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. "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. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. env: 'prod', Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. "Los Angeles was more accessible." When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. This soon led to the show's cancellation. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. You never ask me out." You never call. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', subcat: '', Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. ). A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. She even had a regular childrens segment. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. 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. 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. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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.