An old illustrated packet effect "Invitation to Lunch" by Val Evans is very good.
Has a very good patter.

Does anybody perform it ?

As a teenager I performed a variation of it in my childrem's shows. In "Small But Deadly" I mention later incarnations of it were aimed at children (p.151 U.S. edition). I'm not sure now whether the version I used was the one put out by Supreme or this one still available from International Magic.
http://www.internationalmagic.com/acatal......ic1.html

Either way, clearly inspired by the Val Evans effect.

Paul.

Prior to the effect "Invitaion to Lunch" a similar effect was published in GENII named "Spell Bound" by Franz Christensen.
This packet effect appers to be the first illustrated effect(cartoon type) in the spelling trick category.

That's one I hadn't come across. The Evans routine was August 1937 issue of The Jinx, but Genii started in 1936. Guess I'm going to have to subscribe and get access to all those archives....

Paul.

The effect "Spell bound" was published in Genii Nov 1936. Even Evans gives the credit to Franz Christensen's "Spell Bound"

The effect "Spell Bound" could be the first effect in the illustrated/cartoon type category.