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Betty White served as both host and producer. } However, Albert was very active in the film world and soon chose to leave the show to film the classicRoman Holiday. Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. Racial justice wasnt the only focus of her activism, either. The comedian passed away on December 31, 2021, just weeks away from what would have been her 100th birthday. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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.". So on her nationally televised The Betty White Show, she sang, interviewed guests, performed in skits and read the commercials live. Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022. 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. The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. 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. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. I did something a little different, Duncan told her. page_type: 'article', According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. 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. 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. There's no knowing if her putting her foot down on Duncan staying on had any role in the show being repeatedly rescheduled for different time slots before eventually being taken off the air that same year. White's team of talent included Black performer Arthur Duncan, who was about 21 at the time and looking for his big break. Betty White died on December 31, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 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. 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. aid: '769722', "I'm sorry. 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. 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. # DidYouKnow In 1954, # BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', In other news, One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed. B.E. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) She is older than Mickey Mouse. If Betty White was able to extend so much love and admiration to everyone shed come across over the years, anyone can do the same. Then, in 1964, he was scouted by Sam Lutz, the manager of The Lawrence Welk Show, and invited to come on as a guest. 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. The Inspiring Story Of Arthur Duncan, The First Black Regular On An American Variety Show. Goodbye to Betty White, popular cultures beloved (and saucy) great-grandma. 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 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,. In 2010, the Forest Service made Betty White an honorary forest ranger. This article was published more than1 year ago. Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. In fact, as per Arthur, Betty gave him more time on the air when they started receiving backlash. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS }); !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); This material may not be reproduced without permission. (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: [] }; Case in point: when she rallied to have a Black tap dancer perform on her show despite the audience pushing for his expulsion. Its because of people like her we were able to push the needle forward in terms of racial and gender equality. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. ]); Simply put, if people like her hadnt raised their voices and resisted hatred and ignorance, our world wouldnt have been the same. When letters started coming from Mississippi and elsewhere demanding Arthurs removal, Betty simply wrote back saying, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. It wasnt a matter of finding a compromise or trying to understand the other sides perspective; she wanted to trust her gut and do the right thing, protest be damned. I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business, he said. As in, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro, N.C., lunch-counter sit-ins. 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. While the world mourns the death of actor and activist Betty White, many are learning about her advocacy on behalf of African-Americans. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', You never ask me out." By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. 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 And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. As the host and producer, White hired young Black tap dancer Arthur Duncan to perform. Some facts about Betty White . cat: 'entertainment', She made sure to strengthen causes that needed backing, those that required people to break the mold and upset the masses. The comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. GOOD aligns unparalleled expertise in social science, social media, and social change. 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. Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. 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 . Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Tap dancer Arthur Duncan was first introduced to national audiences by Betty White in 1954 before making history as the first Black performer on The Lawrence Welk Show. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. 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. 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. Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. Duncan appeared in three episodes of The Betty White Show according to IMDb and it was these episodes, in particular, that drew criticism. Ignoring the racist calls, she interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment as well, reported The Washington Post. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. cat: 'entertainment', Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. In 1957, Duncan joined Bob Hope's troupe touring U.S. military bases, making him the first African American to be part of that 100-member group. 3. Wikimedia Commons Arthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. "I'm ready to go now," he said. You never call. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. I am one bad ass bitch. 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. 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.