Siegfried And Roy: The Magic Behind The Tigers

Siegfried And Roy: The Magic Behind The Tigers

Siegfried Fischbacher was born June 13,1939, Rosenheim) and Roy Uwe Ludwig Horn was born October 3, 1944, Nordenham) in Germany around the time of the Second World War.

They emigrated to the United States and are now naturalized citizens. Siegfried is a traditional magician (illusionist). Roy grew up among exotic animals and is known for his rapport with them.

They met in 1957 when they both found work ona German ocean liner. Siegfried was a cabin boy and Roy was a waiter. Siegfried began performing magic for some of the passengers. Eventually he was allowed to have his own show, with Roy as his assistant. Nobody, including the crew knew that Roy had smuggled a cheetah named Chico aboard the ship. Roy had gotten to know Chico from his frequent visits to the Bremen zoo.

After they had developed their show, they received an engagement in Las Vegas. In 1972 they won the award for the best show of the year. In 1990 they were hired by Steve Wynn, the manager of The Mirage for an annual guarantee of $57.5 million. In 2001, they signed a lifetime contract with the hotel.

Siegfried and Roy have appeared in about 5,750 shows together, mostly at The Mirage. Their illusion and magic act closed October 3, 2003 after Roy was injured by one of the act’s tigers during a performance.

The day of the tiger attack was Roy’s 59th birthday. During a show at The Mirage, he was bitten on the neck by a seven-year-old male tiger named Montecore.

Crew members separated Roy from the tiger and rushed him to a hospital. Roy was critically injured and had severe bloodloss. While being taken to the hospital, Roy is reported to have said, “Don’t kill the cat.” Roy was listed in critical condition for several weeks and suffered a stroke and partial paralysis. Doctors removed one-quarter of his skull to relieve the pressure of his swelling brain.

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