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:
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 Capitol Theatre, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 14 November 1951
Joe Feinberg Agency contract for the Sensational Denvers to appear at Capitol Theatre, Scranton, Pennsylvania from 29 November 1951; 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 Colonial Theatre, Albany, New York, 19 December 1951
Paramount Theatrical Agency American Guild of Variety Artists contract between Sam Orson and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at Colonial Theatre, Albany, New York, from 10 January 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Court Square Theatre, Springfield, Massachusetts, 4 January 1952
Paramount Theatrical Agency American Guild of Variety Artists contract between E M Loew and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at Court Square Theatre, Springfield, Massachusetts from 18 January 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 Feeley Theatre, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, 7 November 1951
Joe Feinberg Agency contract between Feeley Theatre, Hazleton Pennsylvania, and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at Feeley Theatre from 15 November 1951; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Gatineau Country Club, Quebec, 7 August 1951
Contract from Sidney Taplin of American Guild of Variety Artists, for the Denvers to appear at Gatineau Country Club, Aylmer, Quebec, from 10 August 1951; 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 Hudson Theatre, New Jersey, 12 September 1951
Contract between Lou Miller Agency and the Denvers, for the Denvers to appear at Hudson Theatre, Union City, New Jersey, for one week from 16 September 1951; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Loews Penn Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 17 January 1952
Music Corporation of America contract between Tony Bennett and the Denvers, to appear at Loews Penn Theatre, Pittsburgh, for seven days from 21 March 1952, plus two riders; typescript, 3pp.
Contract for an Engagement at Loews State Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, 17 January 1952
Music Corporation of America contract between Tony Bennett and the Denvers, to appear at Loews State Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, for seven days from 14 March 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Penn Theatre, Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, 14 November 1951
Joe Feinberg Agency contract between Penn Theatre, Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at Penn Theatre from 22 November 1951; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at State Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut, 10 January 1952
Music Corporation of America contract between Tony Bennett and the Denvers, to appear at State Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut, from 9 February 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at the Apollo Theatre, New York, 18 October 1951
American Guild of Variety Artists contract dated 18 October 1951 between Frank Schiffman of the Apollo Theatre and the Sensational Denvers for thirty shows at the Apollo Theatre, New York, from 2 November 1951; typescript, 2pp.
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 Colisée and Stadium, Chicoutimi and Shawnigan, 20 July 1951
American Guild of Variety Artists contract dated 20 July [assumed 1951] between Andre Norman and the Sensational Denvers to appear at the Colisée and Stadium in Chicoutimi and Shawinigan for five days from 30 August 1951.
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.
Contract for an Engagement at the Copa Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 23 January 1956
Music Corporation of America Artists contract between Lenny Litman and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at the Copa Club, Pittsburgh for eighteen shows from 23 January 1956; typescript, 1p.