betty white 1954 arthur duncan

She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm 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. "I'm ready to go now," he said. 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. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', . . So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. targeting: { Arthur said, "She . Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. 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. 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. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. You never ask me out." 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. We wouldnt have been the same. 1 of 2. 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. Jan 1, 2022. 1937) Elwood . She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). 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, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. Entrepreneurs Summit In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. Live with . In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. 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. ABOUT The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. 4. "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.". Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. This soon led to the show's cancellation. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. B.E. 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. 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'. 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 was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. 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. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. Throughout her life, she lent her support to myriad animal rights organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, The Morris Animal Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, and Actors and Others for Animals. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . } 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. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. 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. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. 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. 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.. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . Arthur Duncan (born September 25, 1933) is an American tap dancer, known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982, which, along with his earlier inclusion (despite Southern objections) on the 1954 Betty White Show, made him the first African-American regular on variety television programs.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.He later entered Pasadena City College to study pharmacy, but left to pursue a career in show business, touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and The Betty White 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! This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. Getty Images. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. When asked why she was risking her livelihood to defend a Black man, she said, Im sorry, but he staysLive with it, as per People. R.I.P. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" Are you going to go house to house?. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. 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. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. 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. Be like Betty White. I am one bad ass bitch. 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. INFORMATION Black Men XCEL . "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. . 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety 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. 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 . When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS 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. 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. Oborfacts What can i say? Contact When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. And there was Duncan. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. 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. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. 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. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. Management Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. page_type: 'article', There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. 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. } He was 97. "I did something a little. BE 100s Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. 0. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever 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. In a 2018 documentary honoring Bettys illustrious career, Arthur said, I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, in television. Betty herself wasnt blind to the outrage, but she wouldnt let the commotion, or as she said, the ruckus sway her in the least. 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 This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . That solved everything at the time.. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her show because he was Black A file photo of Betty White. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. This material may not be reproduced without permission. 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. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. Her show was cancelled afterwards. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. 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. ]); # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. 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. 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. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. Betty White served as both host and producer. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. env: 'prod', And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. (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: [] }; In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. ', 'What could be better than show business? Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. 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. The show. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Sales Partnership Solutions cat: 'entertainment', In 2017, Arthur Duncan was reunited with Betty White on Little Big Shots: Forever Young (pictured above) and later in 2018, contributed to PBSs Betty White: First Lady of Television documentary film. pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. There was even a regular childrens segment. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. 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. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show.

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