But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. . Arthur Duncan, Trailblazing Dancer for Betty White, Lawrence Welk, Dies Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 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. You never ask me out.. You never call. SistersInc. 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. Betty White Reunited With Tap Dancer Whose Career She Launched - Yahoo! Duncan was already a regular on the show which featured performances by White and others, interviews, skits and even a kids segment before it was added to NBCs national lineup in 1954. 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. pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. env: 'prod', Today, many of us dont even comprehend the power she wielded, the significance she carried as the foremost Golden Girl of our zeitgeist, or how she unshakably fought to bring justice and diversity to our screens. On moral courage and sacrificing privilege: When Betty White stood for 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. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { Her response: "I'm sorry. Arthur Duncan. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. page_type: 'article', She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. R.I.P. Betty White: Hollywood Pays Tribute to the TV Icon - W Magazine Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. 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Arthur Duncan on The Betty White Show (1954) | Tap Dance He is a Black Tap Dancer. 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. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. 1 of 2. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, The Betty White Show., Image Via Film screenshot/Wikimedia Commons. 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. Sales Partnership Solutions Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . Women of Power Summit Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. 1. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. NBC first aired in 1954. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Black Men XCEL 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. 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. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . ]); Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. The Betty White Show (TV Series 1954- ) - IMDb In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan - iFunny National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. as well as other partner offers and accept our. "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.". The Powerful Story Behind Betty White's Refusal to Remove a Black 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. Betty White Helped Launch Career of Black Tap Dancer in 1950s - Peoplemag After appearing as a guest on the show, Lawrence Welk offered Duncan a permanent spot as a member of his \"musical family.\"The 1989 film Tap featured Duncan in a cameo appearance with other famous tap dancers.In 2004 Duncan was honored at the annual \"Tap Extravaganza\" in New York City.In 2006, Duncan was honored for his contributions to tap dance at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival.In 2017, Duncan appeared on the series premiere episode of the reality talent series Little Big Shots: Forever Young, where he performed a dance and reunited with actress Betty White.In 2018, Duncan made an appearance on The Talk as part of a surprise for co-host Sheryl Underwood who performed a tap dance routine with Savion Glover as part of the show's New Year's Evolution. You never call. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. 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? At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion Betty White refused to remove Black dancer on her show in 1954 - USA TODAY Be like Betty White. . You never ask me out." The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. 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,. 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in 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. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. targeting: { div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', subcat: '', Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. 'She Truly Was an Original': Stars Remember Betty White - Rolling Stone Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The Betty White Show (1952 TV series) - Wikipedia [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. 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. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after 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'. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Arthur said, "She . Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. 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. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. One particular way in which Ms. White refused to bow to systemic racism was by insisting Arthur Duncan, a Black dancer, remain on her 1950s show, The Betty White Show.. Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. 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. We wouldnt have been the same. "I'm ready to go now," he said. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. FLASHBACK: Lawrence Welk star Arthur Duncan credits Betty White for his . 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. Subscribe to Newsletter Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. BE 100s "Her response: 'I'm sorry. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Twitter shares stories about how Betty White was amazing | EW.com - Yahoo! 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. Arthur Duncan obituary: tap dancer dies at 97 - Legacy.com 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. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy.