White said she wasn't going to budge: Evidently through the South at that point it was a very heavy [thing], and I said, Im sorry, but he stays [] Live with it! White said. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. Women of Power Summit "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. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. 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. When Steve Harvey asked Arthur what it was like to see his old friend, he joked, Im ready to go now. But before God could take him, Arthur wanted to catch up with Betty first. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. Betty White, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland Star, Dead at 99 During the Little Big Shots episode, Harvey surprised Duncan by bringing White on the show to catch up with her old. Tell us what you think! Her response: "I'm sorry. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. 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 . -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. targeting: { Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. You never ask me out.. subcat: '', It has since been updated. She hired a Black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, for "The Betty White Show" in 1954, a full three years before the first federal civil-rights legislation since Reconstruction was passed,. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', White died on Friday, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday, news that prompted a look back on a career that included advocacy on many fronts. 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. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. ', 'What could be better than show business? baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. Jan 1, 2022. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. 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!. 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. Betty White served as both host and producer. 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 IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. 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. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 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. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. And it was never a question at all.. We wouldnt have been the same. Have something to tell us about this article? White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. The show was canceled soon after. "I'm ready to go now," he said. page_type: 'article', Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Getty Images. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. Be like Betty White. Listen to Betty White. 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. targeting: { 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. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. This material may not be reproduced without permission. ). In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. env: 'prod', How Gabriel Prosser Planned What Would Have Been The Largest Slave Rebellion In American History, Meet The Ken And Barbie Killers: Paul Bernardo And Karla Homolka, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. 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. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White 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, recalled Duncan. 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. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. 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! } 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. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. 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. env: 'prod', Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. 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. Duncan credits White for starting his career. Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080" }).render("8791f6495fab447280f16fc61516a837"); }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. In 1957, Duncan joined Bob Hope's troupe touring U.S. military bases, making him the first African American to be part of that 100-member group. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. 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. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. She is older than Mickey Mouse. 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. INFORMATION BETTY White has updated fans on her health in rare interview after fans fear for the beloved Golden Girl ahead of 100th birthday.The actress, 99, crep . *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Betty White: . And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Contact premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young., Here are some of her greatest career moments, Athletes, sports celebrities recall 'national treasure' Betty White, Robert Redford shares his affection for Betty White, 'I had a crush on her, too! "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 special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. "Los Angeles was more accessible." Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Her response: "I'm sorry. as well as other partner offers and accept our. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. 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. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. But this story is true. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. He told her, I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over. And without missing a beat, Betty replied, Oh, I hope so. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. A movie event planned prior to her death to . 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. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. "I'm. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. page_type: 'article', Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White's show was canceled shortly after receiving backlash for her refusal to cancel Black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan. 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. aid: '769722', And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. Subscribe to Newsletter As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Her show was canceled soon after. 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.