The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. NBC first aired in 1954. 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. 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.. The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. Born in Pasadena, California, Duncan entered show business at age 13, when he was a member of a dance quartet that performed at McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena, California. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. . 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. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. CNN . Privacy Policy Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080" }).render("8791f6495fab447280f16fc61516a837"); }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; . Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. 2. You never ask me out." She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. 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. 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. 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,. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. Her response: "I'm sorry. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. 1937) Elwood . With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. 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. He is a Black Tap Dancer. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. You never call. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. 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. 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'. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Duncan's . url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 65 Backyard . Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 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. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. 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. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Betty White, whose more than 80-year career included Emmy-winning roles on sitcoms "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died on Dec. 31. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. 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's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. 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. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . 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. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. . 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. "I did something a little. cat: 'entertainment', Sales Partnership Solutions This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. 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. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS 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 . Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. Entrepreneurs Summit Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. BETTY White has updated fans on her health in rare interview after fans fear for the beloved Golden Girl ahead of 100th birthday.The actress, 99, crep . This was in 1954. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. You never ask me out.. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. cat: 'entertainment', ]); When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. }); EVENTS That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. 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. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 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. 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.. 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. 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. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. subcat: '', Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. Betty White In Person (1987). 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. }); !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); R.I.P. He said it was White who gave him his break. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. 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,. aid: '769722', In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . Oborfacts What can i say? Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Tai Saint-Louis January 2, 2022 6442 Arthur Duncan and Betty White, reunited by Steve Harvey As the world mourns actress and comedienne Betty White, who passed away on Dec. 31, many are. When encouraged to take Arthur Duncan off the air, White, then in her 30s, said: "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," per the Post. His reply to her that they would be performing at local hospitals and orphanages was as wholesome as the beloved actress and entertainer, who died this week at 99. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. Some facts about Betty White . 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. } The almost-centenarian was an icon in every sense of the word: with a career spanning eighty years, she marked a turning point for women in entertainment. 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.. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 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. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. A tap dancer with remarkable skill, Arthur Duncan was the first African American to be hired as a series regular on the variety shows of early television. 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. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . 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. Getty Images. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. page_type: 'article', Betty White served as both host and producer. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. Betty White: . "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. tude.cmd.push(function() { She is older than Mickey Mouse. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. Rest well, Betty. targeting: { However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. 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. She also starred in and produced The Betty. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. 1. You never ask me out.. ABOUT 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.. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. 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. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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? Are you going to go house to house?. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. 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. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. (Video: Reuters). Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes SistersInc. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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 . Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers.