page_type: 'article', Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. 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. pos: 'right_rail_2', White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. You never ask me out." Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. 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. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. 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. 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. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Tell us what you think! 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. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. ]); Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. "I'm. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. 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 producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Background [ edit] By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. You never ask me out.. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. Sales Partnership Solutions pos: 'right_rail_1', The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. 1. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. 4. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . I did something a little different, Duncan told her. 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? The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. That solved everything at the time.. 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. Live. Although The Betty White Show was cancelled within a year due to low ratings due to NBC constantly changing its time slot, Arthur Duncans newfound national exposure led to invaluable new opportunities. . 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,. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Stay up to date with what you want to know. NBC first aired in 1954. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. 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. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Her show was cancelled afterwards. This article was published more than1 year ago. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. The show. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on TV, even though the color of his skin was a real problem for some people. } The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. 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. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Registry of Corporate Directors. After MLKs home was bombed, he refused to back down: This movement will not stop, The brave, forgotten Kansas lunch counter sit-in that helped change America, Sam Howell is the Commanders first-string QB for now, Nationals relievers see benefit in tinkering with new pitches, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. 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 rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. } 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! The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. 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. Duncan's . subcat: '', Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. And it only escalated after NBC rolled out the show nationally, with Southern viewers threatening to boycott the network if White didnt remove Duncan from the lineup. 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. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. "Los Angeles was more accessible." Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. }); !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); 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. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Watch The Betty White Show (November 29th, 1954) 1 Video 3 Photos Family Music Talk-Show Daytime show with Betty White talking to guests, singing with the orchestra, etc. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. Have something to tell us about this article? In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. 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. 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. 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. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. Women of Power Summit pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. But his first performance was more than enough for Southern racists to threaten NBC with a boycott if he continued to be part of the lineup. 0. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. 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. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. 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 . Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. She also starred in and produced The Betty. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. 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. . Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. He said it was White who gave him his break. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. 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. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' Betty White In Person (1987). According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. He Was Fatally Beaten by Memphis Police Now People Around the World Are Sharing #SunsetsForTyre in His Honor, 41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart, The Empowering Truth Behind John Cena and Dwayne The Rock Johnsons Feud, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally Have a Few Things to Say About 20 Years of Marriage and We Should Listen, How the Boy From the Success Kid Meme Helped Raise Over $100,000 to Save His Dads Life, Actress Goes to Pick Up Her Car From Valet Parking Finds an Insulting Note on the Ticket That Mortifies Her, Strangers Spring Into Action to Save a Driver in Crisis on a Busy Road [VIDEO], 8-Year-Old Finds Out His Favorite Waffle House Waiter Is Hiding a Secret Doesnt Hesitate to Raise $64,000 for Him, White Woman Refuses to Listen to Dad After He Forbid Her From Marrying a Black Man 60 Years Later, Theyre Still Together. env: 'prod', Contact Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. subcat: '', url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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. . There was even a regular childrens segment. It has since been updated. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. targeting: { Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . 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. 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. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. This soon led to the show's cancellation. 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. 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.