Her show was cancelled afterwards. 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. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. ', 'What could be better than show business? 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 1. subcat: '', When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. A colleague. 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. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', About Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. "The first TV show I had ever been on, and I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, in television," he said. 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. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. There was even a regular childrens segment. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Oborfacts What can i say? Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. 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. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Subscribe to Newsletter Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . 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. Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More Management The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Wikimedia Commons 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. 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. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. Jan 1, 2022. National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. page_type: 'article', "Los Angeles was more accessible." But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. "I'm ready to go now," he said. 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. Betty White spent final days in home she didn't want to live in targeting: { Betty White In Person (1987). 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. 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. Betty White: 8 Fascinating Things To Know About Her Life And Work "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. "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. 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. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. A movie event planned prior to her death to . Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. (Video: Reuters). Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. Arthur Duncan, Trailblazing Dancer for Betty White, Lawrence Welk, Dies Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) 4. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. (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: [] }; The show was canceled soon after. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. 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. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. It has since been updated. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Privacy Policy Arthur Duncan, Barrier-Breaking Tap Dancer, Is Dead at 97 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,. 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 . The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" She even had a regular childrens segment. cat: 'entertainment', . 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. aid: '769722', You never ask me out.. The first TV show I had ever been on, and I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, in television, he said. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 1956) . According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. 1937) Elwood . When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . 2. Arthur Duncan - Biography - IMDb 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. Contact This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. Betty White Photos: See 48 Photos of Hollywood's Golden Girl Through It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. 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 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. 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? subcat: '', Black Men XCEL Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker Arthur Duncan, One Of The First Black Regulars On American Television With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. } 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. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Arthur Duncan - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. Arthur Duncan obituary: tap dancer dies at 97 - Legacy.com You never ask me out.. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. . Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . 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. 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. Background [ edit] Betty White, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland Star, Dead at 99 During the Little Big Shots episode, Harvey surprised Duncan by bringing White on the show to catch up with her old. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. targeting: { She also told her critics to "live with it.". Women of Power Summit 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. 1 of 2. Betty White dead updates - Cause of death for Hollywood legend revealed Arthur Duncan - Wikipedia The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career "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. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. The show. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. White said she wasn't going to budge: Evidently through the South at that point it was a very heavy [thing], and I said, Im sorry, but he stays [] Live with it! White said. Betty White, 99, gives health update in rare interview after fans fear tude.cmd.push(function() { 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!. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . 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. 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. 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. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. You never call. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. He was 97. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Betty White insisted on Black dancer for her 1950s show Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. "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. Entrepreneurs Summit But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. 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. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. CNN . Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. 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. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. We wouldnt have been the same. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go on 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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 Shaped the Rise of Television. It's a Legacy That - TODAY Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. Arthur Duncan From 'Lawrence Welk' Thanks Betty White For His Career ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. The Betty White Show (1952 TV series) - Wikipedia Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. 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! . Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Stay up to date with what you want to know. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. 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 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. 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. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Betty White: . And Duncan had not only managed to build a professional career out of his art but had become so renowned that Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Cotton Club in 1984. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . He typically performed one solo routine per episode, scored by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, but also frequently danced with peers Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . pos: 'right_rail_1', Duncan credits White for starting his career. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. He said it was White who gave him his break. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. Betty White, veteran actress who starred in The Golden Girls, dies 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. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente.
Oldest Tree On Long Island,
Crowborough Courier Obituaries,
Asurion Tech Support Salary,
Did John Matthews Retire From Channel 12,
H4 Ead Premium Processing Uscis Start Date,
Articles B
