betty white 1954 arthur duncan
Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. 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. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. The Betty White Show (1952 TV series) - Wikipedia 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. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. 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. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Arthur Duncan, One Of The First Black Regulars On American Television 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. 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! Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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. How Betty White Lost Her Show After Standing Up To Racist Bullies The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. } 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. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion targeting: { Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. env: 'prod', 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? 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. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. This soon led to the show's cancellation. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. You never call. pos: 'right_rail_3', Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. 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. Live with . Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . 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.. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. "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.". Betty White's Life in Photos - Peoplemag Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. And it was never a question at all.. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. 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. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. Still, as the only Black cast member, the show also posed a unique risk to Duncan, according to dance historian Constance Valis Hill: In an era in which blacks and whites did not even hold hands, let alone kiss each other on nationally broadcast television programs, Duncan was often seen standing in the background, trying very hard not to look like he was with any of the women on the program.. Betty White Reunited With Tap Dancer Whose Career She Launched - Yahoo! The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. 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. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. 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, Barrier-Breaking Tap Dancer, Is Dead at 97 From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. 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. R.I.P. Betty White: Hollywood Pays Tribute to the TV Icon - W Magazine "I'm ready to go now," he said. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. 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. ]); And Duncan had not only managed to build a professional career out of his art but had become so renowned that Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Cotton Club in 1984. 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. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', targeting: { Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. 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. Listen to Betty White. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. Arthur Duncan, Trailblazing Dancer for Betty White, Lawrence Welk, Dies