This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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'. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. 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. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. 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. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. 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. "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. Have something to tell us about this article? But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. Her response: "I'm sorry. Black Men XCEL Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. It has since been updated. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. 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. How Betty White Lost Her Show After Standing Up To Racist Bullies env: 'prod', Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. Pen Griffey Jr. on Twitter: "Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. CNN . 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. Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go on But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. You never call. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. "I'm sorry. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. Betty White refused to remove Black dancer on her show in 1954 - USA TODAY . The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. 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. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. 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. 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. 0. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. 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. White explained the controversy in the documentary, "All through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didn't get rid of Arthur because he was Black," said White. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. 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. 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. 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. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. 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. 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. You never call. 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. 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. Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', 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. Sales Partnership Solutions Betty White obituary | US television | The Guardian By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. Contact . Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. SistersInc. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. Her show was cancelled afterwards. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. 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! In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. 65 Backyard . Tell us what you think! So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. (Video: Reuters). 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. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Was Betty White Slammed for Having Black Tap Dancer Arthur Duncan on On moral courage and sacrificing privilege: When Betty White stood for Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" White continued to resist the pressurecoming from stations in the South and used Duncanmore, until the show was canceled in 1954 the same year segregationin public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. 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. Listen to Betty White. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at Reelblack@mail.com and info@reelblack.com with details and it will be promptly removed. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. 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,. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. 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. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. She also starred in and produced The Betty. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. Oborfacts What can i say? It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. 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.. subcat: '', Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. Women of Power Summit Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. There was even a regular childrens segment. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. He said it was White who gave him his break. - 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.'" Betty White Photos: See 48 Photos of Hollywood's Golden Girl Through on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { targeting: { } It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. 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. 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 . Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. A movie event planned prior to her death to . Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. This material may not be reproduced without permission. At the time, she faced criticism for including African-American actor Arthur Duncan in the series, and refused to remove him from the show despite a loss in ratings. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. 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. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. She had helped secure his first television job on her variety show 'The Betty White Show' and wasn't going to give in to the mob even if there was considerable opposition to it. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Arthur Duncan, Barrier-Breaking Tap Dancer, Is Dead at 97 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. 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. Be like Betty White. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . aid: '769722', 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. Betty White turns 99 this weekend, as former co-stars sing her praises Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. 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 . 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. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', B.E. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. . subcat: '', as well as other partner offers and accept our. } Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. 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. 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,. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 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. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KLAC-TV (now KCOP-TV) in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. 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.". 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. aid: '769722', Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. "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.". Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. 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. 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. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. Betty White kept Black dancer Arthur Duncan on show despite - Bossip When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. After being born in Pasadena, California in September 1933, Arthur Duncan took his first steps in the performing world at the age of just 13 and after a brief spell studying pharmacy, returned to the world of showbusiness in his early 20s. TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan Her show was canceled soon after. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia Betty White dead: 'SNL,' Robert Redford, Anderson Cooper mourn - USA TODAY Betty White, 99, gives health update in rare interview after fans fear targeting: { Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. 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. Arthur Duncan, One Of The First Black Regulars On American Television
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