The Night the Magic Died
posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 at 10:24PM by Jerry Wilson
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"Roar ... no more" The night the magic died.

Jay Michaels (Los Angeles Bureau Chief)

Lights, spectacle, mystic, majestic, magical. The adjectives gush forth easily whenever one asks about the Siegfried and Roy show that dominated the Las Vegas Strip for years. Some say it was the hardest ticket in town to get. Those of us in the media would joke that even Steve Wynn's own family couldn't get a comp to this show, and that wasn't far from true!

Here was one show that brought magic to a whole new level with the introduction of beautiful white tigers who would appear and disappear on a stage with props that would rival any major production in Las Vegas or the World.

The show was a skillful blend of magic, illusion, and high-tech that thrilled and mesmerized crowds.
At times it seemed indeed as if the tigers were too close for comfort. The blood-chilling roars could be heard in stereoscopic sound, and the air hung thick with scents and panting of prowling beasts. You saw something out of the corner of your eye, and felt startled, for real. How did they do it? The magic went far beyond the stage, permeating the audience. "Magicians of the Century" was a well-chosen metaphor, a richly-deserved sobriquet.

The magic ended, as many already know, on a fateful October Friday night performance last year. Something had gone terribly wrong. The unexpected had happened. Roy Horn, the accomplished animal handler who knew these tigers like his own children, was attacked and dragged off stage. By the neck. Thousands watched in horror, some thought it was somehow part of the show. Whether it was not wanting to set off alarms to the world and to future audiences in this 1,500 seat arena, the press releases started flying - this was not an "attack" by a vicious brute, but the act of a loyal animal who thought its master was in trouble so it dragged him off the stage. Perhaps someone was subconsciously and subliminally trying to save the show. We in the media know better, we can see the spins coming.

In the days since then we heard that this German born illusionist and animal trainer was "communicating" while laying in the hospital. Now, four months later, we now know no one in the media or otherwise knows the real truth about Roy's condition. The spinning wheel has stopped.

It was four days later that Roy's partner, the magician he met while working on cruise ships, Siegfried Fischbacher, told the world on CNN's Larry King program that "the show would go on!" It appears the statement was premature. We would later learn that Mr. Horn suffered a stroke and a tremendous loss of blood and was air lifted to Los Angeles where top specialists were assessing his condition.

It was just before the holidays that the word was out that Roy was coming home for Christmas to be with his "family" those beloved white tigers that he'd raised from cubs.

Word from reliable sources has it Roy was spirited back to Las Vegas recently by Medivac helicopter.

Still we really have heard nothing specific from the media on Roy's condition, and in my opinion it is because the powers that be have decided no one need know what truly happened on that October night that dimmed the lights of the brightest show on the strip. Even sadder, perhaps concern has dwindled. The media is indeed fickle, and I being in it, can attest to the difficulty of putting out news people really care about.

I would only hope that Roy Horn could return to some sort of "normal life" but I guess that is just something we really won't know for some time as that part of the life of Siegfried and Roy seems to be the best kept secret in town.

One thing is for certain, one of the greatest magic and illusion shows that this town -- or the world has ever seen has truly, disappeared, leaving many fans saying...... "How did they do that!?"

One thing we can say: "Tough act to follow."

-- Jay Michaels, Los Angeles with Jerry Wilson, Las Vegas

(c) 2004 Vegas News Service, Vegas Buzz and Allwirelessmedia.com

Write the editors at jwilson@allwirelessmedia.com and JayMProd@aol.com

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