Bobby Borgia Bio part 1 As the little five-year-old sat cross-legged on the living room floor watching a slight-of-hand trick being performed on the television screen in front of him, he knew he just had to become a magician. So, kindergartner Bobby Borgia started his daily practice of finger exercises, to the surprise and concern of his parents. As fate stepped in he and mom, Louise, happened upon Weber's Trick Store on State Street in Erie Pennsylvania after leaving a dentist's office. His reward was to have been an ice cream soda but a magic coin box was an exciting substitute for the budding illusionist. The applause of his tiny classmates after his first show-and-tell with that coveted coin box became the source of his greatest reward ­ seeing the amazement and joy of his audiences. In little time, he began appearing at birthday parties and special events such as the Breakfast with Santa the old Boston Store. Through grade school and on through his high school years at academy, magic continued to be Bob's obsession. An application to the Philadelphia Academy of Theatrical Arts resulted in a two-year scholarship which Bob seriously considered. But, again with consternation for his parents Bob and Louise, young Bob set out for New York City. Having had many appearances at the Station Restaurant,. Billy's Saloon, and Smuggler's Wharf there in Erie, he felt ready to step into the club scene in The Big Apple. So, from 1986 through 1988, his calendar included many bookings at the Magic Shop, numerous clubs, and on cruise ships. Rounding out his agenda were continuing classes in acting and magic as well as auditions for various shows.

A one-year hiatus in 1989 gave Bobby the opportunity to hone his skills further in classes in Cleveland before another chance engagement took him to Los Angeles in 1990. Franz Harary, a world-reknown magician, offered Bobby the opportunity to perform two acts in his "Magic Rocks the World" which toured in Asia during 1991-92. His next two years found him based in LA but touring throughout the region as an actor as well as a magician. He made a video "Cool Kid Vid ­ House Construction". Tragedy, however, struck on Halloween night in 1994. Riding with his cousins John and Susan Borgia, a drunken driver hit their car head on. Sadly, Bob reported, John was left in a coma and Susan had a serious back injury. For six months, Bob, who shot out of the windshield of his car, was required to be very still and to forgo the performance dates which he had lined up. In April of '95, however, he was able to do a show at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, keep a date in Las Vegas, and to appear in a television special "Great Magic of Las Vegas" which later began showing in Europe. He was thrilled to be booked as part of the First Night Erie entertainment at the Warner Theatre doing two shows to the delight of all of the youngster, adults, and seniors in attendance in his home town, autographing playing cards for the fans after the show.