She was fond of leveraging her power to extend empathy towards those who were far less privileged than her. According to the 2020 book Betty White on TV, the show failed to attract sponsors and was cancelled on Dec. 31, 1954 despite a desperate plea by White to NBC execs. Oborfacts What can i say? div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. "In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show," The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center tweeted after her death. Betty didnt let her age hamper her ability to empathize with others, even if they were of a completely different background than her. Lets take a moment to honor the First Lady of Television and what her progressiveness meant to those watching at home. 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. Her show was canceled soon after. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. There was the time she ignored criticism about having Arthur Duncan, . Be like Betty White. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. But this story is true. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. At 21, the California native had been performing in a dance quartet for years and was looking for his big break. . . A colleague. This material may not be reproduced without permission. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { And it was never a question at all.. White's death, at the age of 99, was announced on Friday. White . There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. So, needless to say, Arthur was pretty excited when Betty showed up onstage and surprised him. (1954) nem adtak t djat (1955) Nanette Fabray (1956) Nanette Fabray (1957) Jane Wyatt (1958) "The Betty White Show" was short-lived, repeatedly rescheduled and eventually taken off air, per the Post. 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. 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 Best Celebrity Furniture and Home Decor Lines. In February 1955, the show became the shortest run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. 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. She even had a regular childrens segment. Duncan performed alongside stars like actress Jayne Mansfield, singer Jerry Colonna, comedian Hedda Hopper, and the Les Brown orchestra in places like Pearl Harbor, Korea, Okinawa, and Guam. This soon led to the show's cancellation. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . Background [ edit] Arthur Duncans tap-dancing skills were undeniable. This article was published more than1 year ago. And that included the young tap dancer Arthur Duncan, who would become the only Black man on the program. 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 She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Television was a relatively new medium, but White was a veteran from stage and radio. 1937) Elwood . Betty Whites show was canceled the same year she invited Duncan on as a guest three times. 4. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. He was 97. Duncan even tapped a routine in front of Betty White in a throwback to their time on her show from the 50s. 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. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. Wikimedia CommonsArthur Duncan became the first Black regular on a televised American variety show. Among her favorite guests was Arthur Duncan, an African-American musician from Pasadena, California, who briefly studied medicine before returning to his musical roots. Cindy Ord/Getty Betty White rejected. Arthur Duncan, who is currently 87 years old, is an African-American tap dancer and entertainer. When she was encouraged to take him off because of the color of his skin, she politely declined.. Live with . . Thats when the show was renamed after White, and she took over as both host and producer. 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. . So at age 18, he enrolled in Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; url: 'betty,whites,controversial,hire,of,tap,dancer,arthur,duncan,made,history,in,more,ways,than,one', 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. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. However, Betty White wasnt always such a universally loved figure as the cancellation of The Betty White Show in 1954 goes to show. In this day and age, this wouldn't be seen as any sort of big deal. 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. 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. And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. When The Betty White Show was rolled out on TV channels across the US, many stations and viewers in southern US states threatened to boycott the show unless Arthur Duncan was removed owing to the segregation laws and attitudes towards race that were prevalent at the time. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. After the Pacific tour, Duncan spent several years performing at countless venues across Europe. Arthur Duncan, 97, tap dancer (The Lawrence Welk Show, The Betty White Show) (b. In 2020, the American Tap Dance Foundation inducted Duncan into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame. But there was never a question at all., I said, Im sorry, but, you know, he stays, she said. The beloved actress was preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday with a big televised special that will still air despite her passing only a few weeks before the age . Getty Images. Bettys ninety-nine years on this planet is a testament to the tenacity of human kindness. You can empower others simply by speaking up when the opportunity arises. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS 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 received criticism for having Duncan as a tap dancer in her own show The Betty White Show (1954). 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. 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. Then, learn about the first African-American photographers and their portraits. "I was on the show and they had letters from Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there," Duncan recalled said in a 2017 interview onSteve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". A movie event planned prior to her death to . Betty White, also known as the First Lady of Television, wore many hats, as a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, and more. (Video: Reuters). Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Twitter shares wild and wonderful stories about Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021. . ', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. aid: '769722', So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. 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. 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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 . 1925) Norman Fruchter, 85, writer and academic (b. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it.". Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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,. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. 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. But just who is Arthur Duncan and why did his appearance on The Betty White Show cause such controversy at the time? # ThankYouForBeingAFriend 11:37 AM - 31 Dec 2021 10,874 Retweets 54,906 Likes Contact Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White 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, the then-83-year-old said. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. In 1954, Ms. White was pressured to replace Mr. Duncan, a dancer who went on to receive . She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953-1955), making . Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. 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 comedian was a legend through and through: when faced with the overwhelming pressure to give in to hate, she resisted and won. tag: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS 1956) . Arthur Duncan was invited onto The Betty White Show as a recurring performer for its one-season run in 1954. 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. aid: '769722', Duncan reserved high praise for White during an appearance in a 2018 documentary about her titled 'Betty White: First Lady of Television.' 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. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". CNN . as well as other partner offers and accept our. Betty White rejected attempts to keep Black dancer Arthur Duncan off her show in the 1950s. pos: 'right_rail_3', Betty White In Person (1987). NBC first aired in 1954. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve.
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