', Betty White dies at 99: Here are some of her greatest career moments. 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'm sorry, but, you know, he stays," White said,according to a PBS biography. Live with it," and she gave Duncan even more airtime. Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots: Forever Young.". Well, Betty wrote back and said, Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could. White hired a female director and Arthur Duncan, an African American actor, . It was the first award in an entirely new category. He was 97. env: 'prod', What really defines Betty Whites legacy is her sheer willingness to go against the grain and subvert expectations. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. }); !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); In the early 1950s, White faced criticism for featuring Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer and singer, on a few episodes of her variety talk show The Betty White Show.. BE 100s When she was encouraged to take him offbecause of the color of his skin,she politely declined. She just cared about giving people the respect they deserve. She extended his airtime instead, and responded to racists with "I'm sorry. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Her show was canceled soon after. In 2017, Arthur Duncan was reunited with Betty White on Little Big Shots: Forever Young (pictured above) and later in 2018, contributed to PBSs Betty White: First Lady of Television documentary film. From left, producer Steve Boettcher, Arthur Duncan, Georgia Engel and Gavin . INFORMATION "Los Angeles was more accessible." Supervising Producer, Yahoo Entertainment, Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of, It was a big opportunity for Arthur, who turned it into a career in show business that has lasted more than 60 years. cat: 'entertainment', . She had also featured in a sitcom and even co-hosted a Los Angeles daytime talk show. When she's not writing or scouring the internet for ideas, you can find her playing Genshin Impact or eating Biriyani. 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. cat: 'entertainment', "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. Arthur Duncan, an 83-year-old tap dancer, was on the premiere of Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young. Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing. How Gabriel Prosser Planned What Would Have Been The Largest Slave Rebellion In American History, Meet The Ken And Barbie Killers: Paul Bernardo And Karla Homolka, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. NBCArthur Duncan (left) and Betty White (seated) at their reunion on Steve Harveys Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017. Her response: "I'm sorry. Amid the overt racism,The Betty White Show may have also been quietly sabotaged by brands who chose to stay away from the controversy. He remained part of the cast from 1964 to 1982. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; And to this day, the 87-year-old tap dances when the mood strikes. That year, 1954, also saw the Supreme Court handing make the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which banned segregated schools. Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'" 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. White hired Arthur Duncan as a dancer on her show. About Duncan was already a regular on the show which featured performances by White and others, interviews, skits and even a kids segment before it was added to NBCs national lineup in 1954. A Look at All of Betty White's Homes. 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. You never ask me out," per People. So the next time you blame someones bigotry on their times, remember Betty White. Her respond to pressure to stop featuring him was that people had to "live with it." The show was Duncan's first big break in the business and helped launch his career. Now she wants restitution. ', Betty White's quips and quotes through the years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. With newfound creative control, White created a sitcom that earned her a Best Actress Emmy nomination. You never ask me out.. Betty White: . A 1963 Klan bombing killed her sister and blinded her. This material may not be reproduced without permission. And he got his start in no small part thanks to Betty White. 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. Copywriter by day, true crime enthusiast by night - she has a passion for uncovering perspectives that capture the full spectrum of human nature. Arthur even became the first African-American regular on a variety show when he appeared on, , or leave your comments below. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', tude.cmd.push(function() { But even in California, Duncans regular presence on the show drew criticism. Management 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. 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. ]); Betty White was in "great spirits" and "looked amazing" while filming her final TV appearance which took place just 10 days before her death. Veteran actress Betty White, best known for her role in The Golden Girls and whose career spanned eight decades, has died aged 99. In a time where segregation was at the forefront of American issues, Betty Whiterejected attempts to keep a Black dancer off her show. In response, Betty White famously said Im sorry. In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show. Reunited with White on "Little Big Shots," Duncan reignited trademark banter they used to have on her show. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The entertainer, in her early 30s at the time, was center stage, speaking to the young Black tap dancer seated on her right. She knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, and didnt let the status quo defer her from taking a stand. There was never a question at all, said Arthur regarding Bettys insistence. (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: [] }; Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Betty imbued charm, wit, and sincerity at each and every turn, always ready to poke fun at herself and those around her, eager to uncover both the humanity in comedy and the comedy in humanity. Black Men XCEL And it only escalated after NBC rolled out the show nationally, with Southern viewers threatening to boycott the network if White didnt remove Duncan from the lineup. 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. In 1954 Betty White had a talk show and faced criticism for including a black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, on her show. Betty White gave Arthur his first job on her televised variety show, The Betty White Show. Decades later, in the doc, he was still in awe of her. The show. But the stage kept calling, and he eventually dropped out to pursue tap dancing full time. The world is still mourning the immense loss of Betty White. #betty #criticized #having #arthur #tap #dancer #show #said #im #sorry #live #gave #even #more . . She didnt have an idea of the extent to which it would enrage her market, yet the collective furor didnt crush her spirit or change her mind. But when the shows reach was extended beyond LA, Duncans inclusion as part of the cast made waves across the Jim Crow South. "Her response: 'I'm sorry. Have something to tell us about this article? 1 of 2. A colleague. But one heartwarming story about her principled stand in supporting a Black colleagues career despite opposition highlighted another facet of her life. Live with it." and gave Duncan more airtime. Betty White, to put it simply, is a national. "Well, Betty wrote back and said: 'needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could,'" he said. The Betty White Show is a television series that aired on KLAC-TV (now KCOP-TV) in 1952 and 1953, and on NBC in 1954. I rehearsed with a choral group thats going to do Christmas carols this Christmas., Oh, wonderful, White said. She is older than Mickey Mouse. The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured onThe Betty White Showthataired in the 1950s. According to IMDb, Duncan appeared on three episodes of White's show in 1954. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS - Wikipedia-----Video originally shared on archive.orgShared for historical purposes. . Arthur admits that Betty helped get him the kind of exposure that really launched his career. Betty White was weeks away from her 100th birthday and planned a big celebration. Live with it." She then gave Duncan even more airtime. He is a Black Tap Dancer. 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. Tell us what you think! The dancer, Arthur Duncan, was featured on "The Betty White Show" that aired in the 1950s. kw: 'mandc,celebrity,entertainment-industry,racism', Among White's decisions as host and producer were to hire a female director and make Arthur Duncan, who is Black, a series regular. But this was 1954 and racial inequality was still rife. 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. The cancellation of her variety and talk show came after a huge backlash surrounding the appearance of Arthur Duncan. 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. 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.
Loon Rapper Net Worth,
Articles B