I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. Women of Power Summit 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 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. 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.
A Look at All of Betty White's Homes.
Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go 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. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. aid: '769722', 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.". Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 Championed by Betty White at the start of his career, he became one of the first Black regulars on a TV variety show. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. 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 Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post.
TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan She also told her critics to "live with it.". Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. 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. 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. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes ]); (Video: Reuters).
Betty White - Wikipedia Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes.
"Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. }); EVENTS 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. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. He is a Black Tap Dancer. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance.
Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show - The 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in Her response: "I'm sorry. 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. 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. Jan 1, 2022. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Entrepreneurs Summit Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her.
Arthur Duncan, Barrier-Breaking Tap Dancer, Is Dead at 97 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. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas.
Betty White, veteran actress who starred in The Golden Girls, dies The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. 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. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread.
2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger.
The Betty White Show (TV Series 1954- ) - IMDb We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. 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. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls..
Betty White's Life in Photos - Peoplemag Arthur Duncan on The Betty White shows why Betty White is 'the First Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Her show was cancelled afterwards. He was 97. 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. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . The almost-centenarian was an icon in every sense of the word: with a career spanning eighty years, she marked a turning point for women in entertainment. Arthur said, 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. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. targeting: { R.I.P. 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,. } tude.cmd.push(function() { And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. 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. Betty White: . In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. 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. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. 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. 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. 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. CNN . Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all.
Was Betty White Slammed for Having Black Tap Dancer Arthur Duncan on 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. "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, "The Betty White Show." Rating: True About this rating Betty White, also. 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. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. subcat: '', The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 1. . The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. . In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 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.. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. "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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', This was in 1954. It has since been updated. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. 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.. 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, recalled Duncan. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break.
Betty White insisted on Black dancer for her 1950s show 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.
Betty White turns 99 this weekend, as former co-stars sing her praises But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over.
Arthur Duncan - Biography - IMDb Subscribe to Newsletter Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. He was a 13-year-old student when he joined the dance quartet at McKinley Junior High School and began studying under renowned choreographer Nick Castle. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. 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. 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. White made a career playing sweet characters with hidden and hilarious grit, and that quality goes all the way back to her first televised variety show, where, as the host and producer, she defied racist demands to get rid of Duncan because he was Black. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. This article was published more than1 year ago. page_type: 'article', Rest well, Betty. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Are you going to go house to house?. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. pos: 'right_rail_3', This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. 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. 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. "I'm sorry. subcat: '', "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. cat: 'entertainment', } Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', About
Betty White spent final days in home she didn't want to live in White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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 Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 2. It's been claimed that Duncan's fixed role on "The Betty White Show" as a singer and dancer meant he was the first Black American to have a regular appearance on a TV variety show. She even had a regular childrens segment. tude.cmd.push(function() { env: 'prod', So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White.
Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. 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. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" env: 'prod',
At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. Registry of Corporate Directors. 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.
In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. 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. 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.
Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasn't universally popular at all. page_type: 'article', "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography.
Arthur Duncan, One Of The First Black Regulars On American Television Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. 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. You never ask me out.. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times.
Betty White Shaped the Rise of Television. It's a Legacy That - TODAY Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. Have something to tell us about this article? "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," said Duncan during an episode of 'Steve Harvey's Little Big Shots: Forever Young' in 2017. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. 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. According to the 2020 book Betty White on TV, the show failed to attract sponsors and was cancelled on Dec. 31, 1954 despite a desperate plea by White to NBC execs. Her response: "I'm sorry. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. 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.. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. pos: 'right_rail_1', And it was never a question at all.. subcat: '', She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. You never ask me out." There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature.