So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. They were going to take our show off the air if we didnt get rid of Arthur, because he was Black., People in the South resented me being on the show, and they wanted me thrown out, Duncan agreed. The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. 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. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. If Betty White was able to extend so much love and admiration to everyone shed come across over the years, anyone can do the same. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Jan 1, 2022. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Betty White served as both host and producer. . The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. 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.. 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. Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 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. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. He is a Black Tap Dancer. 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. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. 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. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. 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. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry 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. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. Arthur Duncan - Wikipedia Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center on Twitter } From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . 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! 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. 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. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. pos: 'right_rail_1', In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. Subscribe to Newsletter 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. 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. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. "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. 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. 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. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan targeting: { She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. Arthur Duncan From 'Lawrence Welk' Thanks Betty White For His Career 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. env: 'prod', The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. 2. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. 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. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. He said it was White who gave him his break. Oborfacts What can i say? 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. We wouldnt have been the same. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. } The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. 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. 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. 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. 1. Betty White's Life in Photos - Peoplemag Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. }); !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); Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. She is older than Mickey Mouse. R.I.P. Betty White: Hollywood Pays Tribute to the TV Icon - W Magazine Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 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. ]); BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. He was 97. Rest well, Betty. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Now she wants restitution. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. 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'. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. You never ask me out.. This article was published more than1 year ago. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Some facts about Betty White . 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. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. 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. 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 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. 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. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First Arthur Duncan - Biography - IMDb (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Entrepreneurs Summit . Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. You never call, responded White. 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. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) Women of Power Summit And there was Duncan. } Are you going to go house to house?. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. 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. page_type: 'article', Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. pos: 'right_rail_3', Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Black Men XCEL "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. cat: 'entertainment', Betty White dead: 'SNL,' Robert Redford, Anderson Cooper mourn - USA TODAY 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" On moral courage and sacrificing privilege: When Betty White stood for By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 1956) . Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. } She also starred in and produced The Betty. Duncan's . Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker You never ask me out.. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. Was Betty White Slammed for Having Black Tap Dancer Arthur Duncan on "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. aid: '769722', Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. 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 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. But this story is true. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. 1 of 2. . NBC first aired in 1954. page_type: 'article', One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. 0. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Live. subcat: '', Masthead, Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show - The Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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! She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . 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. You never ask me out." tude.cmd.push(function() { she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. 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. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. Betty White Reunited With Tap Dancer Whose Career She Launched - Yahoo! At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', SistersInc. pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. ABOUT In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows.