betty white 1954 arthur duncan betty white 1954 arthur duncan

}); !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); Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". . BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. subcat: '', "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. You never ask me out." 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. Arthur Duncan, a gifted dancer whose appearance on one of Betty White's early TV shows prompted a showdown between southern censors and White, died January 4. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. 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. Some facts about Betty White . 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. 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. 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.. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. "I'm ready to go now," he said. . Tap dancer Arthur Duncan was first introduced to national audiences by Betty White in 1954 before making history as the first Black performer on The Lawrence Welk Show. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. 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'. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. NBC first aired in 1954. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. Black Men XCEL Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. ABOUT 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. 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. R.I.P. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. One particular way in which Ms. White refused to bow to systemic racism was by insisting Arthur Duncan, a Black dancer, remain on her 1950s show, The Betty White Show.. 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. Jan 1, 2022. 1. 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. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. 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,. The show was canceled soon after. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. 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. 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. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. Although NBC eventually canceled Whites show, Duncan had become a star. 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. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. pos: 'right_rail_2', Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. She also starred in and produced The Betty. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm. She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Duncan credits White for starting his career. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. Entrepreneurs Summit Tell us what you think! It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', And it was never a question at all," he recalled. White gave it to him, he recounted in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television.. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. But by the early 1980s, when The Lawrence Welk Show finally went off the air, that era was over. A colleague. 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. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. aid: '769722', Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. 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 . In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. }); EVENTS When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. 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. 0. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Betty White: . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. (Video: Reuters). A movie event planned prior to her death to . Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . It has since been updated. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. Her response: "I'm sorry. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. But this story is true. 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. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. 1956) . . He Was Fatally Beaten by Memphis Police Now People Around the World Are Sharing #SunsetsForTyre in His Honor, 41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart, The Empowering Truth Behind John Cena and Dwayne The Rock Johnsons Feud, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally Have a Few Things to Say About 20 Years of Marriage and We Should Listen, How the Boy From the Success Kid Meme Helped Raise Over $100,000 to Save His Dads Life, Actress Goes to Pick Up Her Car From Valet Parking Finds an Insulting Note on the Ticket That Mortifies Her, Strangers Spring Into Action to Save a Driver in Crisis on a Busy Road [VIDEO], 8-Year-Old Finds Out His Favorite Waffle House Waiter Is Hiding a Secret Doesnt Hesitate to Raise $64,000 for Him, White Woman Refuses to Listen to Dad After He Forbid Her From Marrying a Black Man 60 Years Later, Theyre Still Together. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her show because he was Black A file photo of Betty White. This soon led to the show's cancellation. White said she wasn't going to budge: Evidently through the South at that point it was a very heavy [thing], and I said, Im sorry, but he stays [] Live with it! White said. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. 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. } Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. 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. ]); That solved everything at the time.. White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. The beloved actress was preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday with a big televised special that will still air despite her passing only a few weeks before the age . In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. SistersInc. 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. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. 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. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. You never call, responded White. Live with . So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. The 98-year-old actress is loved by almost all and has had an unbelievably successful career spanning more than eight decades. targeting: { "I was on the show and they had letters from Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there," Duncan recalled said in a 2017 interview onSteve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. 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. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. When NBC gave her a national 30-minute variety show in 1954, she . Arthur said, "She . As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. aid: '769722', Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. You never call. ). In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. At the time, she faced criticism for including African-American actor Arthur Duncan in the series, and refused to remove him from the show despite a loss in ratings. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. About baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. In December 1957, he became the first Black man to join Bob Hopes 100-member troupe to tour U.S. military bases worldwide. Have something to tell us about this article? divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', "Los Angeles was more accessible." } Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. B.E. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. 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. Her show was canceled soon after. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. The show. 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. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Duncan's . 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 dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. "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. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. 3. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Duncan started touring with The Jimmie Rodgers Show and performing on Betty White's 1954 . Background [ edit] "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" Arthur had seen everything he needed to see in life after reuniting with Betty. 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. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured entertainment segments that are typical of variety shows. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. } aid: '769722', tude.cmd.push(function() { tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," Duncan told White, to which she replied: "Oh, I hope so. 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.