Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994
Biography
Hal Denver was the stage name of Ralph Norman, second son of Tom Norman ‘The Silver King’, and father of Michael (Mickey) Van Norman the famous boxing referee.
Hal was born in 1909 to one of the most successful showmen of the 19th century and followed the family tradition into the travelling entertainment business to become a renowned star on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing in films and rodeos in America during the 1930s and 1940s.
Hal was a very successful and versatile entertainer. He performed in a Wild West speciality act as both a knife-thrower and cowboy and his early career involved working on the fairgrounds with his family. His skills quickly catapulted him into the world of variety, acting and circus. He appeared in many films and rodeos in America and Europe next to big cowboy names such as Tex Ritter and William Boyd. He was also a guest on The Johnny Carson Show and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show together with Elvis Presley and Gene Autry. He worked in variety with Dick Henderson, 'Hutch', Morecambe and Wise, Edith Piaf, Tony Martin, Dorothy Dandridge and Denise Darcel amongst others and worked in some of the most important circus rings of the time such as Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey in the United States and the Blackpool Tower and Billy Smart's Circus in England.
Between stage tours in variety, Denver also formed his own travelling circus, using names such as 'The Silver King Circus', 'The South African', 'The Royal South African Circus', 'The New Era Circus' and 'The Great American Circus'. In their heyday, the Denvers appeared in leading theatres such as the Sahara Hotel in Vegas and the Palace Theatre on Broadway.
After his third wife, Olga Frei, left the circus, Hal returned to cabaret and theatre work, and later concentrated on film and television work, appearing in Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
Hal spent his entire life in show business until his death on the eve of filming a new television programme in 1994.
Found in 19 Collections and/or Records:
Amateur Photographer Magazine Article About Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester, c1936 - 1946
Pages 75 - 76 of Amateur Photographer magazine (undated), from the ‘Miniature Camera Gossip’ column by Lancelot Vining, describing a day at Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester, visiting the circus, with a picture of Hal Denver and his human target, Ella [Denver].
Belle Vue Grand Victory Circus Programme, 1945 - 1946
Manchester. Three fold programme with colour illustration of two laughing clowns on top section, red and black in the centre and other circus acts on bottom section including animal trainer and equestrian act on a yellow background on the front cover, inside programme, black and white photographs of performers inclusing Hal Denver with text and red and black illustrations of circus acts on a yellow background on the right and bottom sections.
Belle Vue Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Belle Vue Circus programmes.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Four Handbills for Ray Roger's Circus and Wild West Show, c1940 - 1950
Four handbills, advertising an engagement of the Knife Throwing Denvers by Gainsboro [Gainsborough?] Film Studios, to impale Jack Hulbert and Gordon Harker to the wall at Ray Roger’s Circus and Wild West Show; typescript, 4pp.
Handbill for the Great American Circus and Variety Round-up, c1940 - 1960
Bill of 'The Great American Circus & Western Variety Round-up' [continental wonder show], with the ‘Sensational Hatchet Man’ billed; illustrated, 3pp.
Knife and Hatchet Man: The Very First Olympic Circus, c1985 - 1990
Draft typescript, with manuscript corrections and annotations, titled, 'The Very First Olympic Circus', written by Hal Denver. Includes detailed descriptions of his childhood, early career as a showman, travelling and working with Mickey Rooney and Mamie van Doren, and a trip to Las Vegas, United States of America. Part of his memoir, 'Knife and Hatchet Man', 11pp.
Letter Regarding Inability to Offer Hal Denver Work in the Coming Season, 17 September 1957
Letter and envelope, both headed Tom Arnold and signed by Clem Butson, regretting their inability to offer Hal Denver work in the coming season; typescript, 2pp.
Monographs, Articles and Manuscripts, c1910 - 1990
Monographs, articles, manuscripts and notes, relating to the lives and work of the Norman family, notably showman, Tom Norman (known as The Silver King), and his son, Ralph Norman, who was a knife thrower (known as Hal Denver). Most the writings in this collection were written by Ralph Norman.
Newspaper Cuttings, c1925 -2002
Cuttings and articles from British and international news publications, including local, specialist, and national newspapers and magazines, relating to the personal lives and careers of the Norman family, notably knife thrower, Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver).
Norman Family Collection
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Programmes, 1932 - 1960
Show and event programmes featuring performances by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver) and his wife, Olga Norman, who performed a knife throwing act together, often known as The Sensational Denvers.
Untitled Typescript, c1940 - 1960
Short typescript story (incomplete), written in the third person, beginning, 'Circus as a clown; He was beginning to miss Ella…', thought to have been written by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver), 1pp.
Untitled Typescript, c1970 - 1990
Typescript account on travelling circus beginning, 'As the big trucks lumbered along the deserted country road…', thought to be written by Hal Denver (aka Ralph Norman), 4pp.
Unused Notepaper Headed 'H D Productions Present the Great New Era Circus', c1983
Two sheets of unused notepaper headed 'H D Productions Present: The Great New Era Circus’ [1983 tour?]; 2pp.
Unused Notepaper Headed 'Kayes Bros Circus', c1950 - 1960
Two sheets of unused notepaper headed Kayes Bros Circus with Northants address; 2pp.
Unused Notepaper Headed 'Madam C Paulo's All British Circus', c1983
One sheet of unused notepaper, headed ‘Madam C Paulo’s All British Circus’ with Birmingham address; 1p.
Unused Notepaper Headed 'Prince's International Circus Co', c1950 - 1960
Two sheets of unused notepaper headed ‘Prince’s International Circus Co’ with London and Edinburgh address.