Her response: "I'm sorry. }); !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); Have something to tell us about this article? She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . cat: 'entertainment', . The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. 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. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. White explained the controversy in the documentary, "All through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didn't get rid of Arthur because he was Black," said White. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Background [ edit] This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. Arthur said, "She . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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 also starred in and produced The Betty. aid: '769722', kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. 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. 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. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. That solved everything at the time.. 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,. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. . He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. "Los Angeles was more accessible." She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. Betty White In Person (1987). In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Her response: "I'm sorry. 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. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. Oborfacts What can i say? You never ask me out." We wouldnt have been the same. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in } This material may not be reproduced without permission. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Betty White Reunited With Tap Dancer Whose Career She Launched - Yahoo! Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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, the then-83-year-old said. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. On moral courage and sacrificing privilege: When Betty White stood for 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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 . 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 special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. env: 'prod', tude.cmd.push(function() { Listen to Betty White. And it was never a question at all.. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. You never call. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. Twitter shares stories about how Betty White was amazing | EW.com - Yahoo! Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. Betty White served as both host and producer. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. The show was the first big break for Duncan, then in his early 20s, he said in the 2018 documentary "Betty White, First Lady of Television.". From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . "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. 1937) Elwood . A movie event planned prior to her death to . Betty White Helped Launch Career of Black Tap Dancer in 1950s - Peoplemag kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. } tude.cmd.push(function() { } Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. When Steve Harvey asked Arthur what it was like to see his old friend, he joked, Im ready to go now. But before God could take him, Arthur wanted to catch up with Betty first. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. 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'. cat: 'entertainment', Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" 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. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. Sign up for notifications from Insider! BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. He is a Black Tap Dancer. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. This article was published more than1 year ago. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. } She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. R.I.P. Betty White: Hollywood Pays Tribute to the TV Icon - W Magazine 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. pos: 'right_rail_3', Her show was canceled soon after. "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.". 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!. 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. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Arthur Duncan. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. She even had a regular childrens segment. Primetime Emmy-dj a legjobb ni fszereplnek (vgjtksorozat) In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, "The Betty White Show." Rating: True About this rating Betty White, also. 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. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. Arthur Duncan, Trailblazing Dancer for Betty White, Lawrence Welk, Dies It's been claimed that Duncan's fixed role on "The Betty White Show" as a singer and dancer meant he was the first Black American to have a regular appearance on a TV variety show. You never ask me out," per People. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. Duncan performed alongside stars like actress Jayne Mansfield, singer Jerry Colonna, comedian Hedda Hopper, and the Les Brown orchestra in places like Pearl Harbor, Korea, Okinawa, and Guam. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. 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. 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! Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. ', 'What could be better than show business? Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. BE 100s 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. 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. 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. The show. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Betty White obituary | US television | The Guardian She also told her critics to "live with it.". "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" targeting: { Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer It has since been updated. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. . 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 Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion 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. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. 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. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. 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. FLASHBACK: Lawrence Welk star Arthur Duncan credits Betty White for his Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. Are you going to go house to house?. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. Tell us what you think! }); EVENTS But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? 1. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. ]); } Betty White Shaped the Rise of Television. It's a Legacy That - TODAY You never call. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Duncan's . CNN . 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.. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. If White, 99, had it her way, she would have remained at her longtime marital home in Carmel, which she first built with her late husband, Allen Ludden, when they bought the land in 1978. 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. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. 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 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show.
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