I currently perform this effect at all the shows I do but do it to music. For the life of me I haven't been able to think of funny patter suitable for birthday party audiences besides the usual "You think the pieces are being torn, it sounds like it's being torn..."

Would anyone mind sharing patter for this marvelous trick suitable for family and kids shows?

Check out Richard Osterlind's tapes. He does this effect with a nice patter.

Another way to do this is to tear the paper, and as you tear it you point out very comical articles that you are finding along the way. It is very funny and a more lighthearted approach to doing the torn and restored. Of course, the comedy must for your style and character for it to really work. Just a different way to present it if it fits you.

You can find an example of this type of patter in Sid Lorraine's book "Patter" where he makes funny comments about each article.

For Birthday parties, "The Birthday Banner" is very similar to “The Torn and Restored …”, only uses cards and a birthday message...

Which leads to a patter idea of perhaps tearing up a newspaper looking for a nice gift for the birthday person (and making funny comments on why you didn't get each one.) Then you could "accidentally" drop a few shreds of paper and restore the paper with a birthday wish cut out (perhaps their age, name, or a symbol.)

You could do the regular paper tear and comment on the effects of aging with each tear. Then end with the restoration and "your as young as you feel", then wad it up and toss it as wrinkled.

Rather then use newspaper, just use blank newsprint and create your own message. Perhaps talk about how silly the message is (like the old "Fresh Fish" trick.) Message: "It's Your Birthday!"
Of course he knows it's his Birthday!!"
Then you proceed to tear of each word explaining how silly it is. You end up with just the word "Birth" which makes no sense... unless (restore) "It's Your Birthday!" You could also have the letters of the message be rearranged into another message (if you’re that clever.)

As an opening for the classic tear:

"Newspapers are very one sided. They make a big fuss when someone famous dies, but they hardly say a word to let you know when someone famous is born", is an old line that comes to mind that might tie in.

Thank you for the great ideas guys. I appreciate the reference to Osterlind's DVDs, Charlie. Kyle and Bill, your ideas and are just what I'm looking for - thank you.

If anyone else has any thoughts, please feel free to share!

Nalu:
You are most welcome. I hope the ideas spark some creative thoughts of your own.

Another wonderful patter line that can be used with a torn and restored newspaper is Al Koran's that he used with a torn and restored cigarette paper. I still use that one also when I do my tear.

Richard

As this is in the childrens performer's area, why limit yourself to a newspaper? too many children do not utilize them other than for the SUNDAY comics, or the bird cage.

You could use the comics, and talk about you don't like one or the other, as you tear it up....then realize the one you DO like is on the back side of the one you tore up....
You could use a Comic book page, they come with many ads, you do not like the ads, but after you tear it out, (right from the book!) and tear it up you realise you cannot read the story very well.

Also, what about a twist on the coloring book, use pages from a coloring book, you could even tear them up, add some "crayon dust" and have the pixies not only put the page back together, but color it in as well!
(I was about 14 before I actively read anything in the newspaper other than the comics.....)