Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. 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. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. 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.". . As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. SistersInc. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. Live. 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 Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. . 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,. CNN . A movie event planned prior to her death to . . 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. } Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. 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. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. 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. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. 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. Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. And it was never a question at all.. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. 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. She also told her critics to "live with it.". Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. 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. She also starred in and produced The Betty. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. A tap dancer with remarkable skill, Arthur Duncan was the first African American to be hired as a series regular on the variety shows of early television. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. . Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. pos: 'right_rail_3', He is a Black Tap Dancer. "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. You never ask me out," per People. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Management Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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. "I did something a little. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. 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. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. (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: [] }; When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. 1 of 2. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. You never ask me out.. 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. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. 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. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. The show. 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. The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. . When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . 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. 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 continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Betty imbued charm, wit, and sincerity at each and every turn, always ready to poke fun at herself and those around her, eager to uncover both the humanity in comedy and the comedy in humanity. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. 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. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', ', 'What could be better than show business? You never call, responded White. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. 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. 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 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 . Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. subcat: '', 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. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. BE 100s The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. 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. (Video: Reuters). 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. 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. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. 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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. Contact Arthur said, "She . At a time when racial segregation was at boiling point, there were strong calls from different quarters to remove a tap dancer named Arthur Duncan from 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. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. 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. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. 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. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Privacy Policy tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . pos: 'right_rail_1', In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. 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 . div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. tude.cmd.push(function() { Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. 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!. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. 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.. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported.
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