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:
Solicitors' Letter Regarding Mr Denver's Manuscript, 28 February 1986
Letter from A G Freeman & Son, solicitors of Penman Literary Service, to Messrs Bromley & Walker, solicitors, which explains the latter’s position regarding Mr Denver’s manuscript; typescript, 2pp.
Solicitors' Letter to Ralph Norman Concerning Use of Land at Former Wife's Home, 6 August 1986
Letter from Bromley & Walker, solicitors, to Ralph Norman, concerning his use of land at the home of his former wife, Olga Frei Denver, until 31 August 1986; typescript, 1p.
Solicitors' Letter to Solicitors Concerning Use of Land at Former Wife's Home by Ralph Norman, 5 August 1986
Letter from Lupton Fawcett Bell Cumming & Co solicitors, to Bromley & Walker, solicitors, concerning Ralph Norman’s use of land at the home of his former wife, Olga Frei Denver, until 31 August 1986; typescript, 1p.
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.
Synopsis, c1970 - 1990
Notes on stories believed to have been written by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver), with printed and handwritten notes. Leeds address in margin, typescript, 6pp.
Synopsis 2 Continued, c1970 - 1990
Notes on stories believed to have been written by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver), typescript, 5pp.
Synopsis 3 Continued, c1970 - 1990
Notes on stories believed to have been written by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver), typescript, 5pp.
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.
Telegram from Mack to Denver, c1940 - 1960
Telegram date-stamped 19 MR, Brixton SW2, to Denver 51 Blenheim Gardens, from Mack, 6 Thornmead Grove, Brentry Bristol.
Telegram From Stanley Wathon to Hal Denver, 21 August 1951
Canadian Pacific telegram from Stanley Wathon to Hal Denver; typescript, 1p.
Telegram Regarding Television, c1950 - 1960
Telegram to the Denvers from Mat Berlin regarding television; typescript, 1p.
Texantic Unlimited Agents Deed and Land Grant, c1950 - 1970
Certificate issued to Hal Denver from the Empire of Texas. Includes soil sample, and envelope, 2pp.
The Armless Wonder Monograph, c1910 - 1984
Typescript with 'Ellis the Hangman next week' handwritten on the final page, and 'Received 1 Feb 1984 Ed. Dept' stamped on the back, typescript, 6pp.
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 Elephant Man Monograph, c1930 - 1990
Comments by Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver) on the relationship of Joseph Merrick, Tom Norman, and Frederick Treves; typescript, 9pp.
The Major Story Monograph, c1970 - 1990
Story of how John Major’s mother stepped in when Hal Denver’s partner failed to appear, typescript, 18pp.
The Malayan Throwing Dagger Instructions Advertisement, c1940 - 1960
A4 advertisement folded into three, for ‘The Malayan Throwing Dagger’, instructions on throwing daggers (Wham-o Powermaster Corp, Alhambra, California), with 'Hal Denver Productions, 51 Blenheim Gdns' typed at the bottom.
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.