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It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Duncan went on to become the first Black regular on a variety show when he was hired on 'The Lawrence Welk Show' and he continued on that show for another 20 years. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Betty White insisted on Black dancer for her 1950s show We wouldnt have been the same. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. The show was canceled soon after. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . 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. 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,. ]); }); EVENTS 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. Rest well, Betty. 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. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. The Betty White Show (TV Series 1954- ) - IMDb She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" 4. This was in 1954. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. 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. "Los Angeles was more accessible." Arthur Duncan obituary: tap dancer dies at 97 - Legacy.com 65 Backyard . "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. 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. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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? One particular way in which Ms. White refused to bow to systemic racism was by insisting Arthur Duncan, a Black dancer, remain on her 1950s show, The Betty White Show.. Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go on Stay up to date with what you want to know. }); !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); That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. 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. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. 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. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. 2. } She even had a regular childrens segment. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. 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. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a 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!. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. page_type: 'article', Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Betty White kept Black dancer Arthur Duncan on show despite - Bossip This soon led to the show's cancellation. SistersInc. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Arthur said, "She . 'She Truly Was an Original': Stars Remember Betty White - Rolling Stone . Have something to tell us about this article? The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', And it was never a question at all," he recalled. page_type: 'article', Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. 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. Betty White, veteran actress who starred in The Golden Girls, dies Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 1. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Betty White: 8 Fascinating Things To Know About Her Life And Work A movie event planned prior to her death to . Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. cat: 'entertainment', But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. pos: 'right_rail_1', The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. R.I.P. Betty White: Hollywood Pays Tribute to the TV Icon - W Magazine But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of 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. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. Management "I'm ready to go now," he said. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. 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. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. 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. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. Women of Power Summit "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.". TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan You never call. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. 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. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. You never call, responded White. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 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. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. B.E. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. 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. Arthur Duncan - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. Betty White dead updates - Cause of death for Hollywood legend revealed 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.. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . You never ask me out.. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. Betty White Shaped the Rise of Television. It's a Legacy That - TODAY Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. Duncan's . It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.