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. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. 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. He we as a tap dancer and singer who White was quite fond of and wanted to help him get more exposure. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. 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. "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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. "I'm sorry. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. } Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via 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 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. 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. 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. Live with it. Then, she gave Duncan even more airtime when he appeared on the show twice more. Sales Partnership Solutions Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. Black Men XCEL According to the 2020 book Betty White on TV, the show failed to attract sponsors and was cancelled on Dec. 31, 1954 despite a desperate plea by White to NBC execs. B.E. And it was never a question at all.. She deploys language as a way to connect with her audience and empower them to take action. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. With Betty White's passing at the age of 99, this internet meme about White refusing to ban Arthur Duncan, an African American dancer, from the cast of her television variety show in 1954, is getting wide circulation. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS That solved everything at the time.. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. 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. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. By the 1960s, White had made many appearances on television game shows. 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. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Even at the risk of cancelation, White insisted that Arthur Duncan stay on and thus helped launch a successful career for him. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. pos: 'right_rail_3', Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. 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. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. 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. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. I am one bad ass bitch. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Arthur Duncan. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Privacy Policy Arthur said, "She . Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. Now she wants restitution. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', You never ask me out.. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 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. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. 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. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. You never call. She also starred in and produced The Betty. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. Betty White was in 'great spirits' while filming final TV appearance. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. . Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. 2. Be like Betty White. White . But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. } Live with . While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. You never ask me out.. 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. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. 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. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. tude.cmd.push(function() { Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. } After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. 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. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. Duncan gave Underwood flowers to congratulate her return to tap dancing.In 2020, Duncan was inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame of the American Tap Dance Foundation. And there was Duncan. Her response: "I'm sorry. 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. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. A colleague. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. 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. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', 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,. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Betty White served as both host and producer. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. Contact } tude.cmd.push(function() { Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 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'. Betty White In Person (1987). So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. 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. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. 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. Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. You never call. 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, 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. pos: 'right_rail_2', I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . He said it was White who gave him his break. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. Later on, Arthur was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welks personal manager and was invited to perform as part of Welks musical family.. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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 . 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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. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. aid: '769722', He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. The Betty White Showwas a spinoff of KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. 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 the 1950s, representation on television was still a controversial subject, and the gatekeepers of the industry werent even keen on having women run shows. 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 Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on 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. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . She is older than Mickey Mouse. He typically performed one solo routine per episode, scored by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, but also frequently danced with peers Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel. The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. 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 producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. 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 ask me out," per People. In a heartening example of life coming full circle, 55-year-old Arthur Duncan was still tap-dancing when the son of his former mentor approached him with a project. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. 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 . 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. You never call. She also told her critics to "live with it.". 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. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. 1 of 2. . Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. 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. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. 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.
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