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 412 Collections and/or Records:
Payment Slip for Tonight Show, 18 September 1956
Payment slip for $371.25 less $37.13 comm[ission?], leaving $334.12 net for ‘Tonight’ show, issued by Music Corporation of America Artists Ltd; 1p.
Performing Animals Certificate of Registration, 16 April 1947
Certificate issued to Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver) by the London County Council in accordance with the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925.
Photo of Hal Denver, with Letter Enquiring About an Answering Machine on the Reverse, 17 October 1988
Photocopy of picture entitled ‘The author – Hal Denver’ (same picture found elsewhere in collection of man in jacket with check lapels and buttons) with typed letter on reverse from Pearl Denver to Answercall Ltd enquiring about use of an answering machine; typescript, 1p.
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.
Post Office Savings Bank Book, 4 November 1941 - 22 March 1950
Bank book recording deposits and withdrawals, issued to Master M. C. Norman by the Post Office Savings Bank Book, Leicester Square, London.
Postcard of the Sensational Denvers, c1940 - 1960
Black and white postcard with a photo of the Sensational Denvers.
Posters, c1952 - 1962
Posters, collected by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver).
Programme of Acts, Featuring the Sensational Denvers' Act, c1940 - 1960
Black and white postcard-sized card featuring a photo of the Sensational Denvers’ Act on one side and a programme of acts on the reverse with the Denvers at third and eighth on the bill.
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, 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.
Publicity Card for Plainsman Hotel, Lubbock Texas, c1955
Publicity card for Plainsman Hotel, Lubbock, Texas [the Denvers performed in Lubbock in 1955]; illustrated, 1p.
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.
Ralph Norman Engagement Diary, 1944
Pocket engagement diary, kept by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver). Includes a list of the venues and places he performed in 1944. Diary printed for members of the Variety Artistes' Federation.
Ralph Norman Engagement Diary, 1946
Pocket engagement diary, kept by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver). Includes a list of the venues and places he performed in 1946. Diary printed for members of the Variety Artistes' Federation.
Ralph Norman Engagement Diary, 1947
Pocket engagement diary, kept by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver). Includes a list of the venues and places he performed in 1947. Diary printed for members of the Variety Artistes' Federation.
Ralph Norman Exercise Book, c1940 - 1994
Blue exercise book, containing handwritten notes, draft poems and plays, thought to be kept by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver).
Ralph Norman Memo Book, c1940 - 1994
Red ‘Silvine’ memo book containing handwritten notes, with number puzzles, tricks, personal reflections, notes on the mafia, knife throwing, and parachute jumps, and notes for patter(?), compiled by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver).