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. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. She is older than Mickey Mouse. Arthur, did you have a nice weekend? Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. 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. Duncan credits White for starting his career. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; After appearing as a guest on the show, Lawrence Welk offered Duncan a permanent spot as a member of his \"musical family.\"The 1989 film Tap featured Duncan in a cameo appearance with other famous tap dancers.In 2004 Duncan was honored at the annual \"Tap Extravaganza\" in New York City.In 2006, Duncan was honored for his contributions to tap dance at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival.In 2017, Duncan appeared on the series premiere episode of the reality talent series Little Big Shots: Forever Young, where he performed a dance and reunited with actress Betty White.In 2018, Duncan made an appearance on The Talk as part of a surprise for co-host Sheryl Underwood who performed a tap dance routine with Savion Glover as part of the show's New Year's Evolution. She was part of the board at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and regularly campaigned to raise more funds for the association. Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. 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 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. Her response: "I'm sorry. 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. ABOUT But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. 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. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. 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. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. The Powerful Story Behind Betty White's Refusal to Remove a Black 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. It was the first time in over 60 years that Arthur Duncan and Betty White had appeared on stage together. Betty White - Wikipedia Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. 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 . ]); 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. In 1957, he became the first Black performer to joinBob Hopes USO troop as they entertained U.S. troops in the Pacific for Christmas. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan - iFunny Pen Griffey Jr. on Twitter: "Let us not forget that in 1954 Betty White 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. But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. You never call. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. Her show was cancelled afterwards. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. 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. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. }); !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); Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Duncan looked at White and joked that his life was now complete. This was in 1954. Black Men XCEL pos: 'right_rail_2', But this story is true. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. 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 . 1 of 2. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. And there was Duncan. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. Duncan recalled the furor and the actor backing him during those testing times. Betty White insisted on Black dancer for her 1950s show "I'm ready to go now," he said. Tell us what you think! div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Betty White received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). 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. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . There was even a regular childrens segment. Live. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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. 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. 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. You never call, responded White. 1954) February 11 Howard Bragman, 66, public relations executive (b. According to HITC, White's talk show was canceled in the mid-1950s because of his continued appearances on the show. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. . I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Betty White served as both host and producer. 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. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 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. Arthur Duncan. Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show - The Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. } aid: '769722', Throughout her life, she lent her support to myriad animal rights organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, The Morris Animal Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, and Actors and Others for Animals. 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. A long and successful career followed, including several film and TV appearances. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. (Video: Reuters). "In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show," The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center tweeted after her death. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. The entertainment world is mourning beloved actress Betty White, "our national treasure." The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" star died Dec. 31. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. 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. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. This took place in 1954: when American society was still organized on the basis of hard racial lines, and segregation was considered the norm.