VAN NUYS, CALIF. – Quick! Who was the first African-American to be given a contract as a regular on a weekly variety show? Cape May County’s Flip Wilson? No. Philadelphia’s Bill Cosby? No again. Try Arthur Duncan, tap dancer extraordinaire.
Duncan, who has been dubbed an “entertainer’s entertainer,” performed his dance routines on the “Lawrence Welk Show” from 1964 until 1982, was a mainstay in homes throughout America each Saturday night with his sophisticated style of tap.
“I was aggressive in wanting to be on the ‘Lawrence Welk Show,’” Duncan told The Herald in a Skype interview from his California home. Prior to being given a spot on Welk’s program, the showman had appeared on the “Jimmy Rodgers Show” in Australia as well as many guest spots on shows throughout the world.
According to the entertainer the opening for a tap dancer on Welk’s show was not done by open audition. “They had never thought of that,” he said.
Initially hired as a guest performer, Duncan said Welk told him he wanted to gauge the audience’s reaction to the tap dancer. In 1965, after six months as a guest, he found himself as a regular member of Welk’s musical family in 1965.
“I stayed with the show until 1982, at which time he (Welk) retired,” said Duncan.
He added during the early 1960s he spent most of his time out of the United States. After traveling to Europe for r, Dunc"column">
