INFORMATION Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. 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. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. 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. As in, the year the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools. 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 . She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Her response: "I'm sorry. You dont need to be young or rich or particularly well-educated to treat someone with respect or compassion. Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. 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. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. He is a Black Tap Dancer. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. Tell us what you think! ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. targeting: { I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. 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. 3. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. Sales Partnership Solutions Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". cat: 'entertainment', Later on, he became the first African-American regular on a variety program. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Masthead, Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. 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 fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. 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. Michael Green, 69, molecular and cell biologist (b. 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,. 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. pos: 'right_rail_2', Live with . "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. 1 of 2. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. tude.cmd.push(function() { The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. 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 . 1937) Elwood . *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. R.I.P. 0. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; The show was canceled soon after. env: 'prod', When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. 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. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. Her show was cancelled afterwards. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. He went on to have a decades-long career as one of the first famous Black tap dancers in the US. Live. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Now she wants restitution. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. 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'. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS . Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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,. Her show was canceled soon after. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. 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. You never call. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. . Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. "I did something a little. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? 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. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 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 . And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. Arthur Duncans early career was helped immensely by breakthrough performances on The Jimmie Rodgers Show and, of course, The Betty White Show. } 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. 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. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. Be like Betty White. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', }); EVENTS Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. This soon led to the show's cancellation. Her response: "I'm sorry. That solved everything at the time.. Rest well, Betty. 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. 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. "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.". 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.. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. He was 97. There was even a regular childrens segment. 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. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. The producers wanted to remove him from the show, but White said "He stays. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. NBC first aired in 1954. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. She pledged her support for same-sex marriage, saying, If a couple has been together all that time and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones I think its fine if they want to get married. Additionally, she didnt understand how some people could be anti-something. She was a proponent of minding her business, standing up for the oppressed, and carving her unique place in the culture through entertainment.