Bob Read Collection by Bob Read (Instant Download)

Discover the Genius of Bob Read

Step into the extraordinary world of Robert Graham "Bob" Read, a towering figure in the history of magic and widely regarded as the United Kingdom's greatest magical performer. Known for his unparalleled blend of comedy and mystification, Bob Read captivated audiences with a unique style that created a rolling wave of hysteria, a feat matched by only a select few legends like Juan Tamariz, David Williamson, Bill Malone, and Tom Mullica. Beyond his captivating stage presence, Bob was also a meticulous researcher and historian, delving deep into the early history of London magic and the intricate visual lore of cups and balls performances.

An Unrivaled Collection of Performances and Wisdom

This comprehensive 4-DVD instant download set is a treasure trove, offering over eight hours of Bob Read's performances spanning nearly three decades, from 1976 to 2005. Witness his most celebrated routines, including the incredible "Bottle Production," the mind-bending "$100 Glass Through Table," the deceptive "Transpo Tumbler," the daring "Knife Through Coat," the classic "Quasimodo Card Trick," "D(I)ice Stacking," "Gypsy Torn and Restored Thread," the impromptu "Cups and Balls," and the elegant "Four Coin Production with Handkerchief," among many others. Crucially, several lectures are included where Bob himself thoroughly explains many of these iconic routines, sharing his invaluable ideas and groundbreaking theories on comedic timing and magical presentation.

Journey Through Magical History

Delve deeper into the rich tapestry of magic with two profound historical lectures presented by Bob. One explores the fascinating evolution of cups and balls prints over 300 years, while the other embarks on a compelling search for the mysterious author behind parts of one of magic's most famous literary works, the 'Annals of Conjuring'. Furthermore, join Bob on an exclusive walk through magical London, as he vividly points out sites brimming with captivating magic tidbits from the past four centuries. The collection also features a private interview conducted by Richard Kaufman, where Bob candidly unveils the true secrets of misdirection and the art of comedy magic.

Exclusive Resources and Publications

As an invaluable addition, this instant download set includes PDF files of all seven of Bob Read's highly sought-after publications: 'Thanks to Pepys,' 'What You Get is What I Do,' 'Knife Through Coat,' 'Bottle Production,' '$100 Glass Through Table,' 'Transpo Tumbler,' and 'Penultimate Cups and Balls.' To further enrich your understanding, the complete 2004 issue of Genii magazine, entirely dedicated to Bob and his groundbreaking work, is also included. This entire collection encapsulates the vibrant life and enduring legacy of one of magic's most influential and cherished practitioners.

Original Specs

Bob Read Collection by Bob Read ( Instant Download )

Robert Graham Read ("Bob" to one and all) was one of the unique figures in magic. Bob was the greatest magician the United Kingdom has ever produced. His comedy, his magic, and their combination was unique and produced a rolling wave of hysteria in his audiences that few magicians other than Juan Tamariz, David Williamson, Bill Malone, and Tom Mullica have been able to match. He was also a dogged-researcher and historian/collector, specializing in the early history of magic in London and images of magicians performing the cups and balls.

This unique 4-DVD set contains over eight hours of Bob Read's performances, ranging from 1976 through 2005, including all of his most famous routines. Several lectures are also included in which many of the routines are taught, along with Bob's ideas and theories about comedy. You'll get to see Bob perform his incredible "Bottle Production," "$100 Glass Through Table," "Transpo Tumbler," "Knife Through Coat," "Quasimodo Card Trick," "D(I)ice Stacking," "Gypsy Torn and Restored Thread," "Impromptu Cups and Balls," "Four Coin Production with Handkerchief," and much more. Many of these routines are also thoroughly explained.

Also included are two historical lectures Bob gave, one on the history of prints of the cups and balls over the last 300 years, the second on the search for the mysterious author of parts of one of magic history's most famous books, the Annals of Conjuring.

Let Bob also take you on a walk through magical London, pointing out the sites where interesting magic tidbits took place over the past 400 years. Sit in on a private interview Richard Kaufman conducted with Bob in which he explains the true secrets of misdirection and comedy magic.

Also included on this set are pdf files of all seven of Bob Read's publications, Thanks to Pepys, What You Get is What I Do, "Knife Through Coat," "Bottle Production," "$100 Glass Through Table," "Transpo Tumbler," and "Penultimate Cups and Balls." The entire issue of Genii dedicated to Bob and his work from 2004 is also included.

All told, these four DVDs encapsulate the life of one of magic's greatest practitioners.

Disc One Running Time Approximately 2hrs 14min
Disc Two Running Time Approximately 2hrs 6min
Disc Three Running Time Approximately 2hrs 20min
Disc Four Running Time Approximately 75min