Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. He said it was White who gave him his break. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', . You never call. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. 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. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS aid: '769722', env: 'prod', Some facts about Betty White . 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. 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. 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. ]); ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. (Video: Reuters). }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Her response: "I'm sorry. tude.cmd.push(function() { She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. 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!. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. 4. CNN . tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. 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. "Los Angeles was more accessible." as well as other partner offers and accept our. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 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. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. 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. Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. 3. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. 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'. Registry of Corporate Directors. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the 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. 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,. She is older than Mickey Mouse. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. 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. Jan 1, 2022. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. 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. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. "I'm ready to go now," he said. 1. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. 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. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Arthur said, "She . Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. So it was a minor coup when Betty White got her own show in 1954 with full creative control. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . When encouraged to take Arthur Duncan off the air, White, then in her 30s, said: "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," per the Post. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". ', 'What could be better than show business? It has since been updated. Duncan was already a regular on the show which featured performances by White and others, interviews, skits and even a kids segment before it was added to NBCs national lineup in 1954. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. Throughout her life, she lent her support to myriad animal rights organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, The Morris Animal Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, and Actors and Others for Animals. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { He is a Black Tap Dancer. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. The show. Getty Images. . Her show was canceled soon after. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', pos: 'right_rail_3', 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 off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. ABOUT Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. INFORMATION As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Contact There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . (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: [] }; Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. 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 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. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. She also starred in and produced The Betty. You never ask me out.. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. 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. B.E. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. cat: 'entertainment', "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. 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. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. Duncan's . Rest well, Betty. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. Now she wants restitution. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. R.I.P. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . Following his breakthrough performances on variety shows, Arthur Duncan was invited to be part of Bob Hopes troupe of performers to tour US military bases and was the first African-American to do so. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Sign up for notifications from Insider!