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 16 Collections and/or Records:
Advertisement for Sans Souci Nightclub, Havana, Cuba, c1956
A4 sheet folded into three, advertising Lefty Clark’s Sans Souci Night Club in Havana, Cuba, partly annotated by hand and with a photograph of Olga stuck onto it; illustrated, 1p.
American Guild of Variety Artists Health Plan Identification Card, c1951 - 1956
American Guild of Variety Artists health plan identification card issued to Hal Denver, who has a New York contact address and phone number; 1p.
American Guild of Variety Artists Honourable Withdrawal Card, 2 January 1957
Honourable withdrawal card issued to Hal Denver by the American Guild of Variety Artists.
American Guild of Variety Artists Membership Card, 1956
American Guild of Variety Artists membership card, made out to Hal Denver; folded, 1p.
Bernard M. Wooley Ltd Theatrical and Variety Agents Syllabus of Attractions, 1951
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
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: Memphis Centennial, c1985 - 1990
Draft typescript, with manuscript corrections and annotations, titled 'Memphis Centennial', written by Hal Denver (aka Ralph Norman). Includes detailed descriptions of his meeting Elvis Presley, and his experiences of being a knife thrower, travelling with different variety acts in Britain and his first crossing to the United States of America. Part of his memoir titled 'Knife and Hatchet Man', 17pp.
Letter Regarding Garry Moore Show Contract, 7 March 1952
Letter from Marty Kummer of Music Corporation of America to Hal Denver, accompanying a contract for the Garry Moore Show; typescript, 1p.
Letter Regarding the American Guild of Variety Artists, 18 August 1954
Letter from Dolores Rosaler of the American Guild of Variety Artists to Hal Denver concerning the extended term of three years on his contract; typescript, 1p.
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.
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.
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.
To Mr & Mrs Great Britain Monograph, 26 June 1957
Monograph about the stage in England, Hal Denver’s name typed at foot, typescript, 1p.
Trade and Advertising Material, c1948 - 1966
Advertising material directly and indirectly related to the performance work of Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver), and his wife, Olga Norman, who had a knife throwing act together, often known as The Sensational Denvers.