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Denver, Hal, 1909 - 1994

 Person

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 62 Collections and/or Records:

Newspaper Cuttings, c1925 -2002

 Series
Reference code: 178G22
Scope and Contents

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).

Dates: c1925 -2002

Newspaper Cuttings Collage, 1948

 File — Box Norman Family Box 6: Series 178C144; Series 178E18; Series 178G22; Series 178Q4; Series 178R60; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178G22.35
Scope and Contents

Collage of photocopied newspaper cuttings mounted on a board. Includes three newspaper cuttings, illustrated by black and white photographs, relating to an accident involving Ella Denver, who was hit by a knife during a knife throwing performance with her husband, Hal Denver (aka Ralph Norman).

Dates: 1948

Norman Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0087
Scope and Contents This collection comprises letters, business contracts and agreements, advertising material, printed ephemera and photographs, relating to the life and career of Ralph Norman (also known as Hal Denver), a knife thrower who performed as part of The Sensational Denvers. There are also writings by Ralph Norman, concerning his father, Tom Norman (aka 'The Silver King'), as well as draft chapters for his autobiography, which he titled, 'Knife and Hatchet Man'. Accompanied by a set of throwing...
Dates: c1900 - 2002

Norman Family Photographs, c1900 - 1994

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 2: Series 178C144
Reference code: 178C144.1-238
Scope and Contents Black and white photographs, colour photographs, contact prints, and some photographic negatives, of Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver) shown in later life (c1980-1990) and also in costume performing his knife throwing act with his assistant, Olga (known as The Sensational Denvers) (c.1950-1970), visiting the beach, fairgrounds and sightseeing during a trip to Cuba, and the United States of America (June-September 1956) and his sideshow called, Chihuahua Town in Hull (1960), together with...
Dates: c1900 - 1994

Notes on ‘The Giraffe Neck Woman’ Kayan Lahwi Woman, c1900 - 1960

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 1: Series 178B19; Series 178I13
Reference code: 178B19.15
Scope and Contents

Brown envelope, opened out, with typed notes for a stage routine and hand-written additions to script. Diagram on reverse: Giraffe 3’, Totem pole 2’6”, 1/2 also Venus, Headless 3’, Decapitation 3’, pincushion [sic] 2’6” app, spider 2’6” approx, typescript and manuscript, 2pp.

Dates: c1900 - 1960

Obituaries, Birth and Marriage Certificates, 1925 - 1989

 Series
Reference code: 178Q4
Scope and Contents

Material relating to the funerals of members of the Norman family, as well as copies of birth and marriage certificates of Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver).

Dates: 1925 - 1989

Photographs, c1900 - 1994

 Series
Reference code: 178C144
Scope and Contents

Photographs relating to the life and career of knife thrower, Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver), together with photographs of family members, notably his father, Tom Norman, as well as family occasions and weddings, presumably collected by him and dated approximately from 1990 to his death in 1994.

Dates: c1900 - 1994

Pix Magazine, 2 June 1951

 File — Box Norman Family Box 6: Series 178C144; Series 178E18; Series 178G22; Series 178Q4; Series 178R60; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178G22.32
Scope and Contents

Copy of Pix Magazine. Cover missing. Includes an article on Hal and Olga Denver's knife throwing act, illustrated with seven black and white photographs titled, 'Knife-thrower: Being on the receiving end of the knife throwing act isn't most girls idea of fun' on pages 24-25.

Dates: 2 June 1951

Programme of Performers at the Clubs at Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona, c1956

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 4: Series 178K36; Series 178L9; Series 178P5; Series 178Q4; Series 178T29; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178K36.1
Scope and Contents

Programme of the week's performers at the clubs at Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona, listing the Denvers on Wednesday and Thursday [17 - 18 October 1956].

Dates: c1956

Programme Souvenir De La Exposition Regionale: Agricole - Commerciale - Industrielle, 1951

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 4: Series 178K36; Series 178L9; Series 178P5; Series 178Q4; Series 178T29; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178K36.6
Scope and Contents

Printed souvenir programme for an agricultural fair organised by Societe Cooperative Agricole de Chicoutimi, France. The Sensational Denvers' performed their knife throwing act at this event, and the programme includes information about their performance, illustrated with three black and white photographs of Hal Denver (aka Ralph Norman), and his assistant, Olga. Cream booklet, with red and green illustrations and text on the cover, and black text and images inside, 33pp.

Dates: 1951

Programmes, 1932 - 1960

 Series
Reference code: 178K36
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1932 - 1960

Ralph Norman and Olga Frei Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage, 2 March 1953

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 6: Series 178C144; Series 178E18; Series 178G22; Series 178Q4; Series 178R60; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178Q4.7
Scope and Contents

Certified copy of an entry of marriage for Ralph Norman (formerly Ralph Rudolf Norman Noakes), variety artiste, and Margaret Olga Frei, variety artiste, registered at Lambeth Registry Office.

Dates: 2 March 1953

Ray Rogers Circus and Wild West Programme, c1940 - 1950

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 4: Series 178K36; Series 178L9; Series 178P5; Series 178Q4; Series 178T29; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178K36.3
Scope and Contents

Programme for Ray Rogers Circus and Wild West, with the Sensational Denvers last on the bill; 1p.

Dates: c1940 - 1950

Royal South African Circus Wild West and Variety Roundup Programme, c1940 - 1947

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 4: Series 178K36; Series 178L9; Series 178P5; Series 178Q4; Series 178T29; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178K36.2
Scope and Contents

Single folded sheet programme for ‘the Royal South African Circus Wild West & Variety Roundup' (no date or location given), with the Denvers listed eighteenth of eighteen acts; back page photograph is of a dark-haired woman [Hal Denver’s partner?] leaning against a board surrounded by thrown knives.

Dates: c1940 - 1947

Sunday Telegraph Newspaper Cutting About John Major's Mother in Hal Denver's Act, 16 June 1991

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 5: Series 178G22
Reference code: 178G22.23
Scope and Contents

Newspaper cutting from Sunday Telegraph, concerning John Major’s mother stepping in as a partner for Hal Denver’s act.

Dates: 16 June 1991

TAB Magazine, November 1951

 File — Box Norman Family Box 6: Series 178C144; Series 178E18; Series 178G22; Series 178Q4; Series 178R60; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178G22.33
Scope and Contents

Copy of TAB Magazine: The Pocket Picture Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 4. Cover missing. Includes an article, illustrated with six black and white photographs of Hal and Olga Denver's knife throwing act titled, 'Hatchet Man' on pages 4-9.

Dates: November 1951

The Denvers Press Release, c1947 - 1956

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 1: Series 178B19; Series 178I13
Reference code: 178B19.9
Scope and Contents

A press release from Music Corporation of America, New York, describing how Olga Frei-Denver was persuaded to stay in the partnership after her first performance, typescript, 1p.

Dates: c1947 - 1956

The Denvers: the Knife Throwing Denvers, Aiming to Thrill Poster Scrap, c1930 - 1960

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 4: Series 178K36; Series 178L9; Series 178P5; Series 178Q4; Series 178T29; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178Z25.11
Scope and Contents

Scrap torn from a blue and red poster, with text reading ‘The Denvers: the knife throwing Denvers, aiming to thrill’; 1p.

Dates: c1930 - 1960

The Sensational Denvers: Aiming to Thrill Press Releases, c1947 - 1956

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 1: Series 178B19; Series 178I13
Reference code: 178B19.11
Scope and Contents

Pages issued by Press Relations Department, Music Corporation of America, New York, with a list of engagements and six different press releases about Hall Denvers’ knife throwing act, which he performed with his partner Olga Denver, typescript, 8pp.

Dates: c1947 - 1956

The Sensational Denvers Photograph, c1930 - 1948

 Item — Box Norman Family Box 4: Series 178K36; Series 178L9; Series 178P5; Series 178Q4; Series 178T29; Series 178Z25
Reference code: 178Z25.9
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of the Denvers’ act, titled ‘The Sensational Denvers’ and with the Music Corporation of America logo stuck across the base of the picture; shows signs of retouching with ball-point pen, and of an oval shape having been stuck over the figure of Ella, Hal's partner at the time, 1p.

Dates: c1930 - 1948