Winston Freer

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]

Winston Freer
Born	August 10, 1910 (1910-08-10) St. Albans, Vermont, United States
Died	April 21, 1981 (1981-04-22) (aged 70)
Occupation	Magician

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]

Published works

• Alagen Rope (with U.F. Grant) (1939)
• 25 Rice Bowl Methods (1954)
• The Magic of Doc Maxam (1954)

Works about

• Adventures of Winston Freer CD (2008)

See also

• List of magicians
• Card magic
• Coin magic
• magic (illusion)