Val Evans

Val Evans, born Valentine Bagley Evans in 1896, was known at one time as the “Creator of Super-Subtleties” in the magic world. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. Evans was a veteran of World War I, was decorated with combat medals in offensives on the Somme, Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne, as well as the Marne. He served overseas for some 22 months.

In the 1930’s, Evans performed a ventriloquist show as well as a Punch and Judy show. In the 1940’s, he had a unique throw out card with his billing name as “Valcarte”. He spent most of his life as a professional entertainer creating a number of magic effects including “An Invitation to Lunch”, the "Stop Trick", Card Rising Tray. Some of the lesser-known effects include The Self Solvent Wand, Pasteboard Perplexities, Five Little Bafflers, The Nutric Changing Card, O.K. Spirits Pictures, Mechanical Memory, The E.Z. Cigarette Apparatus, and the Instantric Card Frame.

A number of these effects still find their way in performer’s presentations and on the auction block. Evans was stricken with agoraphobia and would not leave home to go outside, which ended his performing career. He passed away February 3, 1981.