The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. 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. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. "I did something a little. env: 'prod', cat: 'entertainment', . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. Arthur Duncan. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. 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!. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. Duncan's . The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. The show. You never call. 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. Arthur Duncan, a gifted dancer whose appearance on one of Betty White's early TV shows prompted a showdown between southern censors and White, died January 4. 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. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. 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. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" Oborfacts What can i say? targeting: { Arthur Duncan was a tap dancer and singer known for his regular appearances on "The Betty White Show" and "The Lawrence Welk Show." 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After initially becoming a ratings success, a controversy surrounding Arthur Duncan and repeated scheduling changes resulted in The Betty White Shows quiet cancellation by NBC who did not renew the show for more episodes according to WFMU. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. 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. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. page_type: 'article', Now she wants restitution. Listen to Betty White. 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. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). 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. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Her response: "I'm sorry. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. 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.. tude.cmd.push(function() { When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. 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. 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. aid: '769722', 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. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. . . 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. Duncan credits White for starting his career. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. You never call. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. 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. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. Sales Partnership Solutions 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. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. 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. Have something to tell us about this article? But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. Privacy Policy This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. 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. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. She even had a regular childrens segment. 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. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. He said it was White who gave him his break. This was in 1954. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. 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 said, "She . 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. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Betty White served as both host and producer. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. targeting: { divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' 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. 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.