Winston Freer (August 10, 1910 – April 21, 1981) was born in St. Albans, Vermont. In 1926, at the age of 16, Freer saw Howard Thurston perform and became interested in magic.[1] He grew up to be one of magic's cleverest inventors.[2]
In the 1930s, Freer worked at Abbott's Magic in Colon, Michigan and performed under the name Alladin and later Doc Maxam.
Freer gained a reputation for performing effects like freezing ice in his bare hand. He also startled magicians by performing a suspension while standing in the middle of a floor entirely surrounded.[3] It was captured on the cover of The Linking Ring, August 1941.[4]
Freer also published his classification of magical effects in The Linking Ring.[5]
Freer also fancied himself a mathematician. One of his most impressive creations was his Tile Puzzle. What makes it so interesting is that neither the pieces nor the frame change shape or size in any way.[6]
