When asked why she was risking her livelihood to defend a Black man, she said, Im sorry, but he staysLive with it, as per People. 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. 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. "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. She paid respect to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or what have you. It was the first award in an entirely new category. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Be like Betty White. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. 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 . White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. 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. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. 65 Backyard . Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. 4. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. Betty White: reglnyok: Bea Arthur: reglnyok: Phylicia Rashad: The Cosby Show Rue McClanahan: reglnyok: Shelley Long: Cheers: . 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. 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. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' 1 of 2. ABOUT Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. 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.. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. When Duncan told White, "I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over," she replied, "Oh, I hope so. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Betty White was facing pressure from stations in the South but used Duncan even more until the show was canceled in 1954. aid: '769722', BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. She also told her critics to "live with it.". Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. Live with it. , Betty White, one of the most endearing and enduring faces on television, dies at 99. 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. premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young., Here are some of her greatest career moments, Athletes, sports celebrities recall 'national treasure' Betty White, Robert Redford shares his affection for Betty White, 'I had a crush on her, too! You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. But this story is true. We wouldnt have been the same. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { After just one appearance, Duncan was asked to remain onThe Lawrence Welk Show, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. Deal with it and gave Duncan more airtime. And all through the South, there was this whole ruckus, White remembered in the doc. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. 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. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . White, a boundary-breaking television star by 1952, then became the first woman to produce a sitcom, Life with Elizabeth, which she also starred in. . Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. 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. NBC first aired in 1954. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . ', 'What could be better than show business? While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. 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. 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. Betty White was one of a kind, and no incident highlights that better than her refusing to give in to demands for a Black dancer to be removed from her show in the 50s. 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. . As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. 3. Betty White (1954), (Bettmann/contributor/Getty images) . You never call, responded White. Betty White In Person (1987). 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. . The show was canceled soon after. *Arthur Duncan was born on this date in 1933. 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. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. When Bea Arthur left The Golden . Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. Three years later, one of the Los Angeles-area shows co-hosts, Eddie Albert was given his own eponymous spin-off. Her show was cancelled afterwards. 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. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Im ready to go now, he morbidly joked as White approached. 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. Jan 1, 2022. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. When so many of her peers were justifying their ignorance by claiming to be a product of their times, Betty stood out. Sales Partnership Solutions White made a career playing sweet characters with hidden and hilarious grit, and that quality goes all the way back to her first televised variety show, where, as the host and producer, she defied racist demands to get rid of Duncan because he was Black. SistersInc. This means that White had already made history by making Duncan the first Black series regular on a talk show. Some facts about Betty White . White . 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. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Born on Sept. 25, 1933, in Pasadena, California, Arthur Duncan gravitated to the life of a performer from a very young age. This is a tremendous loss," tap-dancing legend Arthur Duncan tells Rolling Stone. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. She treated Arthur like a friend and fought tooth and nail to have him on her show. The legendary dancer discussed how Betty White gave him his first job on TV, even though the color of his skin was a real problem for some people. } 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'. Background [ edit] pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. The show was a daytime talk show that also featured ente. cat: 'entertainment', Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. I am one bad ass bitch. Privacy Policy 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. After initially becoming a ratings success, a controversy surrounding Arthur Duncan and repeated scheduling changes resulted in The Betty White Shows quiet cancellation by NBC who did not renew the show for more episodes according to WFMU. She had helped secure his first television job on her variety show 'The Betty White Show' and wasn't going to give in to the mob even if there was considerable opposition to it. It has since been updated. She even had a regular childrens segment. Duncan, 88, was a regular featured performer on White's NBC variety talk show, The Betty White Show , in the . You never ask me out.. Arthur Chester Duncan (September 25, 1925 - January 4, 2023) was an American tap dancer, also called an "Entertainer's Entertainer," known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982. Little Big Shots: Forever Young airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. According to the 2018 PBS documentary, Betty White: First Lady of Television, (available on Netflix) Duncan credited White for his first big break. 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. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. } 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. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. (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: [] }; She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. } 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. 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. 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. Betty White spent over seven decades in front and behind the camera. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. 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. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. Arthur Duncan was honored in 2004 and 2006 at the Tap Extravaganza in New York and the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Dance Festival. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source told The Post. 2. }); !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); But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. Duncan was featured on the show at least three times. This was on The Lawrence Welk Show. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. env: 'prod', Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. BE 100s 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. 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 Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. , Facing the threat of boycotts across the South, White famously said, Im sorry but he stays Live with it!. A colleague. But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. B.E. She continued to serve as producer on the show, pushing boundaries by hiring a female director and showcasing. page_type: 'article', 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. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. 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.". Email: agilbert@usatoday.com. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years.