Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. 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 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. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. targeting: { White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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? # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. R.I.P. Twitter shares stories about how Betty White was amazing | EW.com - Yahoo! B.E. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. Privacy Policy Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker 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. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. White died on Friday, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday, news that prompted a look back on a career that included advocacy on many fronts. Getty Images. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. env: 'prod', 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. Stars Betty White George Tibbles Dick Cathcart See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 2 User reviews Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy 1 nomination total There was even a regular childrens segment. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. The show was canceled soon after. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia She even had a regular childrens segment. He is a Black Tap Dancer. 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. The show. . "I did something a little. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. 3. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. 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. aid: '769722', 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. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. 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. 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. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. Betty White kept Black dancer Arthur Duncan on show despite - Bossip Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. cat: 'entertainment', Tell us what you think! After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. Duncan credits White for starting his career. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Women of Power Summit Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. 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. Arthur said, "She . In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. You never call, responded White. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with 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. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; . Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. He was a 13-year-old student when he joined the dance quartet at McKinley Junior High School and began studying under renowned choreographer Nick Castle. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture ]); A movie event planned prior to her death to . Unfortunately, the show was canceled the same year, though its hard to say whether it was a direct result of the outcry or if interest was waning in general. 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. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes - House Beautiful "I'm ready to go now," he said. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. Pen Griffey Jr. on Twitter: "Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White Arthur Duncan. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. 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. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. 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! One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Some facts about Betty White . (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', "Her response: 'I'm sorry. Rest well, Betty. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. 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. 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. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. 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. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. 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. Oborfacts What can i say? (Video: Reuters). 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. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { ]); . Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. 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. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. I am one bad ass bitch. 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. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. 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. 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. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. "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.". 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. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. 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. } Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. 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. subcat: '', 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. 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 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. Betty White obituary | US television | The Guardian 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. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. "I'm sorry. The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career Betty White Helped Launch Career of Black Tap Dancer in 1950s - Peoplemag And there was Duncan. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion 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. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. aid: '769722', Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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,. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Now she wants restitution. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it." The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched.