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. 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. You never ask me out." White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Management Arthur said, "She . And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. INFORMATION Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 Championed by Betty White at the start of his career, he became one of the first Black regulars on a TV variety show. That solved everything at the time.. NBC first aired in 1954. 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. He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. pos: 'right_rail_2', tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Getty Images. 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. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. 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. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Live with . But this story is true. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Stay up to date with what you want to know. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. (Video: Reuters). She also told her critics to "live with it.". 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, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. 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. ]); 1956) . 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. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. 4. I am one bad ass bitch. 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. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. "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. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) as well as other partner offers and accept our. 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. 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. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. 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. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. Betty White served as both host and producer. page_type: 'article', Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. 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. cat: 'entertainment', The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. She also starred in and produced The Betty. "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. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? 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. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. 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. 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. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. } she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. ', 'What could be better than show business? NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . 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. Entrepreneurs Summit aid: '769722', Have something to tell us about this article? Listen to Betty White. 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. This material may not be reproduced without permission. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. . 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 . Oborfacts What can i say? }); !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. "I did something a little. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. SistersInc. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. 65 Backyard . Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. cat: 'entertainment', Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. He soon moved on to The Lawrence Welk Show in 1964, where he was introduced every week until 1982 as the man whos keeping tap dancing alive.. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. "I'm. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . We wouldnt have been the same. 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. 0. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. 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 . 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. targeting: { Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" "Los Angeles was more accessible." 2. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. pos: 'right_rail_3', cat: 'entertainment', Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. 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. 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. 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. She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show.Betty responded with Im sorry. 1. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. 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. You never call. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. You never call. } 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. 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 rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. 1937) Elwood . Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. He was 97. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . "I'm ready to go now," he said. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. He is a Black Tap Dancer. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. And there was Duncan. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Betty White In Person (1987). Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. 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. Betty White: . 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. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Live. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. ABOUT } The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Watch The Betty White Show (November 29th, 1954) 1 Video 3 Photos Family Music Talk-Show Daytime show with Betty White talking to guests, singing with the orchestra, etc. Registry of Corporate Directors. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. 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. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. Duncan later toured with Bob Hope and appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly two decades. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. } You never call. 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. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. 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. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. 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. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. Women of Power Summit ). CNN . A movie event planned prior to her death to . Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. "I'm sorry. After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. page_type: 'article', targeting: { The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. 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. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. 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.