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. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 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. There was even a regular childrens segment. 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 . aid: '769722', *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. R.I.P. "I'm ready to go now," he said. In the early 1950s, White faced criticism for featuring Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer and singer, on a few episodes of her variety talk show The Betty White Show.. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. 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 . Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. subcat: '', But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. 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. 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!. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. 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. } He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. The show was canceled soon after. This article was published more than1 year ago. 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. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. targeting: { Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . subcat: '', Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . 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. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. 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. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. pos: 'right_rail_2', CNN . The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. 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. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. 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.. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. 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. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. 65 Backyard . According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes . "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. See when we celebrated Betty Whites 95th birthday with our 5 fave TV appearances: Steve Harveys Hilarious Version of Ray Charless Georgia on My Mind, 8-Year-Old Girl Tries to Take Steve Harveys Hosting Job, George Lopez Schools Steve Harvey During Celebrity Family Feud. 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. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', She is older than Mickey Mouse. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 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. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. In a heartening example of life coming full circle, 55-year-old Arthur Duncan was still tap-dancing when the son of his former mentor approached him with a project. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . 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. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. 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. Registry of Corporate Directors. ', 'What could be better than show business? Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. 3. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. ). 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. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. }); EVENTS 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. 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.. 1937) Elwood . With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. 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. 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Background [ edit] Stay up to date with what you want to know. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 1 of 2. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. page_type: 'article', The show was the first big break for Duncan, then in his early 20s, he said in the 2018 documentary "Betty White, First Lady of Television.". Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. 2. tude.cmd.push(function() { Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice 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 is a Black Tap Dancer. 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. However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so.

Lauren Caldwell Engaged To Titus, Articles B