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 the Oasis Ballroom, Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana, 20 July 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for The Denvers to appear at the Oasis Ballroom, Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana, on 29 July 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at the Sans Souci Nightclub, Havana, Cuba, c1955 - 1957
Music Corporation of America contract between Sans Souci Nightclub and the Denvers, to appear at the Sans Souci, Havana, Cuba, for twenty shows from 18 June 1956, and for one television show a week; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Top Hat Café, Montreal, 13 September 1951
American Guild of Variety Artists contract between Top Hat Café and the Denvers, for them to appear at Top Hat Café, Montreal, for fourteen days from 1 October 1951; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Vigo County Fair, Terre Haute, Indiana, 29 June 1955
Music Corporation of America contract dated between Boyle Woolfolk Agency and the Sensational Denvers, to appear at Vigo County Fair, Terre Haute, Indiana for three days from 16 August 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement at Washington Park Amphitheatre, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 30 July 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for the Sensational Denvers to appear at Washington Park Amphitheatre, Milwaukee on 30 July 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Beaumont, Texas, 12 October 1955
Music Corporation of America contract between Music Corporation of America Artists and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Beaumont, Texas for five days from 25 October 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Berea, Ohio, 22 June 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for the Sensational Denvers to appear in Berea, Ohio for six shows from 19 August 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Cache, Oklahoma, May 1956
Music Corporation of America Artists contract between Craterville Park, by Frank Rush, and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Cache, Oklahoma, for eight shows from 16 August 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Dallas, Texas, 10 October 1955
Music Corporation of America contract between Mrs J David Nichols and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Dallas, Texas for two shows on 7 November 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Erie, Pennsylvania, 28 July 1955
Music Corporation of America contract between Rev Francis Schlindwein and the Denvers to appear in Erie, Pennsylvania, on 24 August 1955 for two shows; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Faribault, Minnesota, 27 June 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for the Sensational Denvers to appear in Faribault, Minnesota for four shows from 5 August 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Houston, Texas, 10 October 1955
Music Corporation of America contract between Mrs J David Nichols and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Houston, Texas for two shows on 2 November 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Jackson, Tennessee, 1 August 1955
Music Corporation of America contract between Jack Lindahl of Boyle Woolfolk Agency and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Jackson, Tennessee for twelve performances commencing 12 September 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, 2 December 1955
Music Corporation of America Artists contract between Tom McCune and the Denvers, to appear in McKeesport, Pennsylvania for twenty-eight shows from 19 December 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 12 October 1955
Music Corporation of American contract dated between Music Corporation of America Artists and the Sensational Denvers, to appear in Oklahoma City for fourteen shows from 19 October 1955; typescript, 1p.
Contract for an Engagement on the Riverboat Follies, Iowa, 7 August 1956
Music Corporation of America contract between Candy Candido and the Sensational Denvers, to appear on the Riverboat Follies, Iowa, for six days from 21 August 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract for Binghampton Theatre New York Engagement, 5 December 1951
Joe Feinberg Agency contract for the Denvers to appear at Binghampton Theatre, New York, from 1 January 1952; typescript, 1p.
Contract for Performances at Midland High School, Texas, and Tulsa Municipal Theatre, Oklahoma, 13 December 1955
Music Corporation of America contract for the Sensational Denvers to appear at Midland High School, Texas, on 12 December 1955 and at Tulsa Municipal Theatre, Oklahoma on 13 December 1955, for two shows in each location; typescript, 1p.
Contract for Performances at Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona, 8 October 1956
Contract between Major W Vincent and the Denvers, to appear at The Officers’, Special Services and NCO clubs, Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona, on 17 and 18 October 1956; typescript, 1p.
Contract Rider for the Belle Vue Café Casino Engagement, 4 April 1951
Typed sheet headed ‘Contract Rider’ to be attached to the original contract dated 4 April 1951, referring to an agreement by Harry Holmok of Bellevue Café Casino, Montreal, to engage the Denvers from 26 July 1951 to 8 August 1951; typescript, 1p.