Ralph W. Read
(USA: - 26th March 1952)
Inspired at age 9 by a dime-museum magician in Denver. Learned at age 13 from vaude magician. Debut at age 15. Pro mindreader. In 1908 took over Roterberg's mail-order business and founded the firm of Read & Covert in 1910, which became the Chicago Magic Co in 1912. Improved but did not invent the Mental Masterpiece prop. Later moved to New York City and finally (1948) California.
Wrote The Calostro Mind Reading Act (1934); The Three Shell Game (1938, 58pp); The Radio Vision Mind-Reading Code (by "Calostro"); 'One Man' Mind Reading Secrets (by "Calostro"); and Flash Paper Tips (1951, 50pp, with Stuart Robson). Ghosted or edited several others. Edited Volumes 3 (1943), 4 (1945), & 5 (1948) of the revised Tarbell Course in Magic. A memoir is Conventioneers Caravan (1949, 12pp). Articles in Linking Ring.
Coauthors: Tony Corinda, Stuart Robson
