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 152 Collections and/or Records:
Commission Note for an Engagement at the Seven Club/l’Etoile at the Hague, 18 March 1955
Commission note in which Hal Denver agrees to pay fifteen percent of salary to Premier Vaudeville Agency for engagement between 22 April and 5 May 1955 at the Seven Club/l’Etoile at the Hague; typescript, 1p.
Confirmation by Radiotelevisione Italiana to the Denvers, 5 January 1955
Confirmation (?) by Radiotelevisione Italiana to Les Due Denvers; typescript, 2pp.
Contract and Commission Note for an Engagement at Savoy Theatre, Clacton, c1958 - 1960
Contract (i) and commission note (ii) between Entertainments (Clacton) Ltd and the Knife Throwing Denvers to appear for one week at Savoy Theatre, Clacton from 20 July 1959; typescript, 2pp.
Contract between Asociación Cubana de Artistas and the Denvers, c1955 - 1957
Contract from Asociación Cubana de Artistas for the Denvers to appear from 18 June 1956 to 27 June 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract between the Supermarket Show of Shows and the Denvers, 1 August 1956
Music Corporation of America contract between the Supermarket Show of Shows and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in twenty-one shows from 17 November 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance at a US Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, 19 January 1956
Music Corporation of America Artists contract between Lieutenant Commander Bogue and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at a US Naval training station, Great Lakes, Illinois, for one show on 16 February 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance at Baker Hotel, Dallas, Texas, October 1955
American Guild of Variety Artists contract for the Sensational Denvers (Hal Denver and Olga Frei) to appear at Baker Hotel, Dallas, for one show, on 3 October 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance at Kiamesha Lake, New York, 20 July 1956
Music Corporation of America contract between Phil Greenwald and the Denvers, to appear at Kiamesha Lake, New York, for one show on 11 August 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance at Waterloo Police Department, Ohio, 27 April 1956
Music Corporation of America Artists contract for the Denvers, to appear at Waterloo Police Department, Ohio, for one show on 27 April 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance in Chicago, Illinois, 9 August 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for the Sensational Denvers to appear in Chicago for one performance on 29 August 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance in Dallas, Texas, 23 January 1956
Music Corporation of America Artists contract between Jack Morton Productions and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Dallas for one show on 29 February 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Performance in Lubbock, Texas, 10 August 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for The Sensational Denvers to appear in Lubbock, Texas for one show on 10 September 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for a Show in Chicago, Illinois, 8 August 1955
American Broadcasting Company (ABC) contract for the Denvers to appear in Chicago on 28 August 1955 for one show; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Cabaret Dancing Seven Club, 16 March 1955
Contract from Theaterbureau Saks, signed by Hal Denver, agreeing to perform at Cabaret Dancing Seven Club from 22 April to 5 May 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Ciros, Philadelphia, 12 February 1952
Music Corporation of America contract between David Cohen, the owner of Ciros, and the Denvers, to appear at Ciros, Philadelphia, for eighteen performances from 31 March 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, December 1955
American Guild of Variety Artists contract for the Denvers to appear at Fair Park, Dallas, for five shows, from 10 December 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Grand Rapids Stadium, Michigan, 19 February 1952
Music Corporation of America contract between Phil Simons and the Denvers, to appear at Grand Rapids Stadium, Michigan, for twelve shows commencing 14 April 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Hobart Arena, Troy, Ohio, 25 May 1956
Music Corporation of America contract between Ken Wilson and the Denvers, to appear at the Hobart Arena, Troy, Ohio, from 14 September 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at the Armory, Duluth, Minnesota, 13 March 1952
Music Corporation of America contract between Lake Head Shows Inc and the Denvers, to appear at the Armory, Duluth, Minnesota, for fifteen shows from 9 April 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at the Coliseum, Austin, Texas, 14 February 1956
Music Corporation of America Artists contract between E O Stacy and the Sensational Denvers, for the latter to appear at the Coliseum, Austin, Texas, for four days beginning on 7 March 1956; typescript, 1p.