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 62 Collections and/or Records:
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).
Newspaper Cuttings Collage, 1948
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).
Norman Family Collection
Norman Family Photographs, c1900 - 1994
Notes on ‘The Giraffe Neck Woman’ Kayan Lahwi Woman, c1900 - 1960
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.
Obituaries, Birth and Marriage Certificates, 1925 - 1989
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).
Photographs, c1900 - 1994
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.
Pix Magazine, 2 June 1951
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.
Programme of Performers at the Clubs at Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona, c1956
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].
Programme Souvenir De La Exposition Regionale: Agricole - Commerciale - Industrielle, 1951
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.
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.
Ralph Norman and Olga Frei Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage, 2 March 1953
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.
Ray Rogers Circus and Wild West Programme, c1940 - 1950
Programme for Ray Rogers Circus and Wild West, with the Sensational Denvers last on the bill; 1p.
Royal South African Circus Wild West and Variety Roundup Programme, c1940 - 1947
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.
Sunday Telegraph Newspaper Cutting About John Major's Mother in Hal Denver's Act, 16 June 1991
Newspaper cutting from Sunday Telegraph, concerning John Major’s mother stepping in as a partner for Hal Denver’s act.
TAB Magazine, November 1951
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.
The Denvers Press Release, c1947 - 1956
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.
The Denvers: the Knife Throwing Denvers, Aiming to Thrill Poster Scrap, c1930 - 1960
Scrap torn from a blue and red poster, with text reading ‘The Denvers: the knife throwing Denvers, aiming to thrill’; 1p.
The Sensational Denvers: Aiming to Thrill Press Releases, c1947 - 1956
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.
The Sensational Denvers Photograph, c1930 - 1948
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.