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. This article was published more than1 year ago. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. Live. National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture It's Betty White's 99th birthday on Sunday, and former co-stars Arthur Duncan and Wendie Malick are singing her praises. 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. } 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. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes - House Beautiful 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. Betty White's Comic Reversals | The New Yorker A colleague. 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 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. After learning about Arthur Duncan, read about how Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner. We bring people together, change perceptions, and inspire actions that impact culture for good. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. 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. CNN . 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. Management Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. In 1954, Betty White rejected pressure to stop featuring tap dancer Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . Arthur Duncan, the dancer in question, was a young man in his twenties, striving to make a mark in the industry. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. She just prioritized building earnest relationships with people, and if progress came as a result, no problem. White had already spent years trying to break into film and TV and eventually managed to become a co-host of the Hollywood on Film talk show in 1949 and left only to launch her own company. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. 1956) . And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. When encouraged to take Arthur Duncan off the air, White, then in her 30s, said: "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," per the Post. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Entrepreneurs Summit He entertained thousands of viewers each week with his performances and dazzled thousands more with his live performances. Betty White: 8 Fascinating Things To Know About Her Life And Work Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. 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. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 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. Betty White asked Arthur Duncan. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. Given that White and Duncan both corroborated this story in the documentary, we rate this claim as True.. In the 1950s, Betty White was criticized for having Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan on her variety talk show, "The Betty White Show." Rating: True About this rating Betty White, also. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. Life With Elizabeth ran until 1955; during 1954, White simultaneously presented her own variety show, her second Betty White show. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. 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.". Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harvey 's Little Big Shots: Forever Young. What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. 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. That solved everything at the time.. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. 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. 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. The comedian had a natural affinity towards animals, particularly elephants and gorillas. Most incredibly, she was also a champion of LGBT equality. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. But this story is true. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More Her response: "I'm sorry. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. She just stood up for her beliefs, said Duncan. Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. 3. ]); Oborfacts What can i say? White, who died Friday, would have turned 100 on Jan. 17. Shaoni Das is a writer based out of Alberta, Canada. aid: '769722', BE 100s Have something to tell us about this article? Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . Arthur Duncan. SistersInc. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. 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. You never ask me out." Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. And it was never a question at all.. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!'" targeting: { . Betty White Shaped the Rise of Television. It's a Legacy That - TODAY 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. (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: [] }; kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'. 1. Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry 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. As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Betty White, veteran actress who starred in The Golden Girls, dies Rest well, Betty. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. TIL that, in 1954, Betty White was criticized for having Arthur Duncan "Her response: 'I'm sorry. Duncan performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for nearly 20 years, making him the first Black regular on a variety show. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. aid: '769722', White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . pic.twitter.com/toipvY9cyQ. Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. Over 60 years later,Whiteand Duncan were reunited on Little Big Shots: Forever Young to Duncans surprise. 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. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show. Age isnt an excuse to be horrible to other people. I hope we have a chance to visit after this is over., Oh, I hope so. Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show - The Betty White, 99, gives health update in rare interview after fans fear "I'm. Why You Need This All-Access Design Program. It was the first award in an entirely new category. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. 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. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. } That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Betty White pushed back against pressure for her to stop featuring a Black tap dancer on her show in 1954, The Washington Post reported. At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion Tap dancer & Singer Arthur Duncan performing "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) Arthur Duncan From 'Lawrence Welk' Thanks Betty White For His Career pos: 'right_rail_1', 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. 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. Arthur Duncan obituary: tap dancer dies at 97 - Legacy.com "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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. 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. Betty White holds the record for "longest television career of any female or male entertainer." She is older than sliced bread. It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. You never call. Arthur Duncan, 84, is a tap dancer best known for his stint on "The Lawrence Welk Show." PBS. And it was never a question at all," he recalled. Getty Images. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. When Betty White Refused to Bow to Racists Over Dancer Arthur Duncan subcat: '', The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer When Bea Arthur left The Golden . Betty White obituary | US television | The Guardian