The special is called Betty White: First Lady of Television. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. 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. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. There was even a regular childrens segment. In 1954, Betty White was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, on her show. On another episode, White interviewed a Black child during the childrens segment. Registry of Corporate Directors. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. Duncan, who is black, was on the show when it went national and southern states started complaining about his inclusion in the show. Betty White Helped Launch Career of Black Tap Dancer in 1950s - Peoplemag (Video: Reuters). Sometimes this involved putting her own reputation on the line, and still, she didnt back down. And by his 21st birthday, hed caught the eye of TV pioneer Betty White. . Betty knew she wasnt some prominent politician or royalty she was merely a television actress but she was still extremely self-aware of her influence on the country. Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97 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. 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, the then-83-year-old said. # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined. The Powerful Story Behind Betty White's Refusal to Remove a Black The Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. Black Men XCEL Entrepreneurs Summit env: 'prod', The show. Of course, the social media world is full of distortions and fabrications. 'The Betty White Show' saw her perform songs and entertain viewers with skits and interviews with guests. ', 'What could be better than show business? With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. 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. Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. She pledged her support for same-sex marriage, saying, If a couple has been together all that time and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones I think its fine if they want to get married. Additionally, she didnt understand how some people could be anti-something. She was a proponent of minding her business, standing up for the oppressed, and carving her unique place in the culture through entertainment. 'He stays': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in She also starred in and produced The Betty. It was the first award in an entirely new category. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. She set the standard, and we will forever be grateful. [5]After several years of appearances in Europe, Duncan was discovered by Lawrence Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz. 'He stays, live with it': Betty White refused to remove Black dancer I am one bad ass bitch. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. Theres a reason why shes widely celebrated as a trailblazer of her generation: she didnt offer any excuses or apologies. on her eponymous talk show in 1954 . But her decision to defy conventional norms and balk at Southern naysayers allowed Duncan to go one to make history at least twice more. Betty White - Wikipedia Arthur Duncan performed wherever he could. 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 . National Treasure Betty White Has Died at the Age of 99 - Vulture On moral courage and sacrificing privilege: When Betty White stood for Betty White Made History With Arthur Duncan, He Did It Twice More Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. The daily talk/variety show on NBC allowed White to hire a female director (opens in new tab) as well as Arthur Duncan, . 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.. When Betty White was in her early 30s she landed her very own self-titled variety show. 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. Born in Pasadena, California, Duncan entered show business at age 13, when he was a member of a dance quartet that performed at McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena, California. 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. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. 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. Contact 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. Steve Harvey also had Betty White come on to the show to reunite them. 1937) Elwood . tude.cmd.push(function() { Betty White: . aid: '769722', Part of her show would feature a young Black entertainer by the name of Arthur Duncan. 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. When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. "I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. 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. Duncan told Steve Harvey in 2017 thatWhitegave him his first job on TV during the premiere of Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young.. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. It was also the year segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Wikimedia CommonsBetty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. "I'm. 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. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for almost 20 years. But White didnt capitulate, telling her critics, Im sorry, but he stays. 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. 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. "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. Betty White Made 1954's The Betty White Show Very Progressive. 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 . The show was canceled soon after. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. The 33 Coziest Designer Bedrooms Ever. White went on to game shows, the talk-show circuit and eventually mega-stardom as Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls.. . At 99 Years Old Betty White Lives In A Luxurious California Mansion subcat: '', How Betty White Lost Her Show After Standing Up To Racist Bullies She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. In 1954, she became the host of her own daily variety show, The Betty White Show. One Piece episode 1054 delayed, new release date confirmed, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. } ]); "I'm sorry, but he staysLive with it!" The Controversial Decision That Nearly Ruined Betty White's Career The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KTLA in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. However, Duncan spent years presuming that his dream of becoming an artist was too far-fetched. 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. -----#####Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. 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 - "Sing You Sinners,Sing" (1954) - YouTube Duncan appeared on the show at least three times. 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. 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. Left: Arthur Duncan/Betty White Show/NBC Right: American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. 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. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Betty White, to put it simply, is a national treasure in the US. Duncan was later discovered by big band leaderLawrence Welk who invited him onto his ABC variety show. Arthur Duncan, Tap Dancer born - African American Registry As producer of her own show, White decided to give Duncan a national platform to share those skills with the rest of the country. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. Betty White, known for her role as Rose Nylund on 'Golden Girls,' dies. Listen to Betty White. At a time when racial segregation was at boiling point, there were strong calls from different quarters to remove a tap dancer named Arthur Duncan from her show. Sandy Duncan: Funny Face 1973 Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Tyler Moore: Bea Arthur: Maude Jean Stapleton: . 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. Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images. ': Betty White's quips and quotes through the years.
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