The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career Not only had she been one of the first women to helm her own show on television, but she also laid the groundwork for how women could assert their agency in a landscape that was still dismissive of their talent and power. 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. She also starred in and produced The Betty. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' }); EVENTS Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. }); !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); } 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 comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. We wouldnt have been the same. Betty White Reunited With Tap Dancer Whose Career She Launched - Yahoo! 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. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', She also told her critics to "live with it.". 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. Whats more intriguing is that this wasnt Bettys sole act of defiance within the show; she interviewed a Black child on the special when it was considered controversial to do so. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. You never call. aid: '769722', divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', . White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. pos: 'right_rail_1', Betty White - Wikipedia But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes - House Beautiful He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. 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. } Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. Betty White: . Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. ). Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. The show was canceled soon after. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. 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. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. 1956) . A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. Some facts about Betty White . #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . You never call. 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. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. In 1954, Betty White created and hosted her own daily variety and talk show, The Betty White Show. Screening event for Betty White's 100th birthday will go on Watch clips and full episodes of Little Big Shots for free on Yahoo View. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. You never call, responded White. 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 this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. "I'm sorry. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Listen to Betty White. env: 'prod', 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.. Shed been a progressive since day one, and its because of people like her that we were able to delegitimize hateful sentiments that had dominated the country in those years. Her response: "I'm sorry. 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,. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. She even had a regular childrens segment. Arthur Duncan, One Of The First Black Regulars On American Television Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "289be4dd-5b1f-48bc-990f-ec567999e080" }).render("8791f6495fab447280f16fc61516a837"); }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. Betty White dead updates - Cause of death for Hollywood legend revealed pos: 'right_rail_3', "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. cat: 'entertainment', The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. she bluntly told those that brought the matter to her, reported PEOPLE. Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. Sign up for notifications from Insider! She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. cat: 'entertainment', But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. 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 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. The show was the first big break for Duncan, then in his early 20s, he said in the 2018 documentary "Betty White, First Lady of Television.". 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. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. targeting: { She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. Live with it: Betty White defied racist demands in 1954. page_type: 'article', Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. 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. aid: '769722', Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. 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. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. Women of Power Summit . 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. } BE 100s However, it was during an appearance on Steve Harveys show Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017 that Duncan felt truly blessed when Betty White surprised him onstage. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Live with it, according to USA Today and ended up giving Arthur Duncan more airtime as a result. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. A tap dancer with remarkable skill, Arthur Duncan was the first African American to be hired as a series regular on the variety shows of early television. When Steve Harvey asked Arthur what it was like to see his old friend, he joked, Im ready to go now. But before God could take him, Arthur wanted to catch up with Betty first. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, The Betty White Show., Image Via Film screenshot/Wikimedia Commons. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. 1937) Casey Hayden, 85, civil rights activist (b. 4. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More About 65 Backyard . He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 1. He said it was White who gave him his break. 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. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. env: 'prod', 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. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. 'She Truly Was an Original': Stars Remember Betty White - Rolling Stone Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. targeting: { BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. "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. 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. Management cat: 'entertainment', ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it." The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Arthur first appeared on The Betty White Show in 1954. 3. 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. 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. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. 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. Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show - The 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. NBC first aired in 1954. With substantial clout, she developed her own variety show in 1954 and wasted no time giving talented performers a shot. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Betty White served as both host and producer. } 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer Duncan's . And there was Duncan. National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. } Arthur Duncan on The Betty White Show (1954) | Tap Dance . In the early 1950s, White faced criticism for featuring Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer and singer, on a few episodes of her variety talk show The Betty White Show.. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. Getty Images. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. Television was still a new medium, but White was already a veteran performer of stage and radio, had acted on a sitcom and had co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The Betty White Show gave tap dancing star Arthur Duncan his big break but his appearance on the show wasnt universally popular at all. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. 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. Wish Day | The Betty White Show (1954) Ft. Arthur Duncan Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Entrepreneurs Summit 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. 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. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time?