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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. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. The show. } A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. R.I.P. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', . Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. subcat: '', We wouldnt have been the same. 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. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. You never call. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. . Getty Images. Stars Betty White George Tibbles Dick Cathcart See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 2 User reviews Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy 1 nomination total 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. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. 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. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. "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. Betty knew she wasnt some prominent politician or royalty she was merely a television actress but she was still extremely self-aware of her influence on the country. } 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 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. 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. pos: 'right_rail_2', 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. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Some facts about Betty White . As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. 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. . (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . The show was canceled soon after. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. It didnt take long for the programs eponymous host to offer Duncan a permanent place in the shows musical family.. } Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. ]); 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. Be like Betty White. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Duncan's . The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. 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! 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. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. . She also told her critics to "live with it.". 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. Registry of Corporate Directors. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. Her response: "I'm sorry. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. B.E. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. targeting: { Rest well, Betty. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. CNN . Have something to tell us about this article? Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. Betty White served as both host and producer. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. Sign up for notifications 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'. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. 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. 4. page_type: 'article', targeting: { And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. ]); Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Black Men XCEL Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. This soon led to the show's cancellation. 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. 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. 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. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. 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. You never call. He was 97. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', } Tell us what you think! After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. 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. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. (Video: Reuters). And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Her show was cancelled afterwards. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. 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, Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2018 ahead of a surprise TV reunion with White. 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. 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. NBC first aired in 1954. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. 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. 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. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. 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. 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. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. 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. 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. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. 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. And it only escalated after NBC rolled out the show nationally, with Southern viewers threatening to boycott the network if White didnt remove Duncan from the lineup. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. 2. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. But this story is true. His reply to her that they would be performing at local hospitals and orphanages was as wholesome as the beloved actress and entertainer, who died this week at 99. It has since been updated. The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. 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. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. Sales Partnership Solutions 1. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', subcat: '', Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. tude.cmd.push(function() { The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. INFORMATION 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', page_type: 'article', Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. 3. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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. 65 Backyard . "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" When Bea Arthur left The Golden . In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. In the documentary, White described that all through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didnt get rid of Arthur because he was Black., Added Duncan: People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. 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.