Arthur Duncan

Arthur Chester Duncan (September 25, 1925 – January 4, 2023) was an American tap dancer, also called an "Entertainer's Entertainer," known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982. 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 variety television program. He performed all over the world, and notably at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Early life Born in Pasadena, California, one of thirteen children, Duncan entered show business at age thirteen, when he was a member of a dance quartet that performed at McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena. He later entered Pasadena City College to study pharmacy, but left to pursue a career in show business. Career Arthur Duncan took dance lessons with Willie Covan and Nick Castle. Duncan claimed that Castle had a bigger influence on him and his musicality. While Duncan could be counted on for a consistent solid rhythm and big finish, he rarely repeated himself and "was not a relaxed dancer." In fact, "his forearms tended to swing stiffly from the elbow." In terms of expression, he aimed to "please old-timers." The stress of doing so caused the look on his face to be strained, "wavering between smarmy and scared, the smile of a man concerned about the pistol sticking into his back." Many African American performers often felt as though they needed to smile wide for white audiences, and it is clear that Duncan, no matter his popularity, was not exempt from that.