When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. targeting: { After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Duncan performed alongside stars like actress Jayne Mansfield, singer Jerry Colonna, comedian Hedda Hopper, and the Les Brown orchestra in places like Pearl Harbor, Korea, Okinawa, and Guam. It was the first award in an entirely new category. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By sethuraman s . Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. 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. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. 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. In 1961, the then 39-year-old actress met the man . The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. A colleague. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. ', 'What could be better than show business? Less than three weeks before her 100th birthday, the actress . Getty Images. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Be like Betty White. 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. "I'm. 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. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Arthur Duncan was a tap dancer and singer known for his regular appearances on "The Betty White Show" and "The Lawrence Welk Show." Died: January 4, 2023 ( Who else died on January 4? ]); 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. 3. 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 produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . 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. He was 97. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. 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.. "I'm sorry. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. 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. 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. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. 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. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. cat: 'entertainment', But his first performance was more than enough for Southern racists to threaten NBC with a boycott if he continued to be part of the lineup. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . 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. Supervising Producer, Yahoo Entertainment, Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of, It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. 65 Backyard . Subscribe to Newsletter 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. Betty White: . 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 And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. tude.cmd.push(function() { } Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. She is older than Mickey Mouse. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. 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. subcat: '', 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. 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. Not only had she been one of the first women to helm her own show on television, but she also laid the groundwork for how women could assert their agency in a landscape that was still dismissive of their talent and power. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Jan 1, 2022. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. We wouldnt have been the same. Entrepreneurs Summit She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. 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. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. 1956) . Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . 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. . The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. 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. You never ask me out." Duncan credits White for starting his career. pos: 'right_rail_2', Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 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, 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,. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. See, back in 1954 Betty White served as the host and producer of The Betty White Show, a comedic variety show that was geared toward families and entertainment. 29K views 1 year ago 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. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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. 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. Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', You never call. Sales Partnership Solutions She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. 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'. 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.. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. subcat: '', 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. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing.