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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Siegfried and Roy perform with tiger in final show
Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press Writer LAS VEGAS – Illusionists Siegfried and Roy — and the Bengal tiger that ended their careers — shared the stage again Saturday night for a haunting final performance. The brief charity show saw Roy Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher side by side with Montecore, the massive white tiger that brutally mauled Horn during a 2003 performance. Horn re-emerged Saturday dressed in black robes, his face covered with a skeletal mask. The dark stage was covered in smoke. Horn limped slowly onstage, often steadying himself on Fischbacher's shoulder. The two slowly performed a signature illusion as Fischbacher, dressed in white robes and a mask, stood inside a cage, which was then cloaked in drapes. As Horn removed the curtain seconds later, Fischbacher appeared across stage, a hulking tiger in his place. As the crowd took to its feet, the men removed their masks. Fischbacher standing between the tiger and Horn. They waved and blew kisses at the audience, but said nothing. An announcer left the crowd with this final thought: "Within all of us there is an illusive melody, which when heard and followed will lead you to the fulfillment of your fondest dreams." The performers' manager, Bernie Yuman, later confirmed the tiger was Montecore. In October 2003, the tiger sank its teeth into Horn's neck, dragging him offstage in front of a horrified audience. The illusionist, now 64, was partially paralyzed, suffering a damaged neck artery and crushed windpipe. After 13 years and more than 5,000 performance, "Siegfried & Roy" show at The Mirage immediately went dark, ending one of the most successful shows in Las Vegas history. The Saturday performance at the Bellagio hotel-casino was the highlight of a lavish benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The center, which will treat brain disorders like those Horn now suffers, is set to open later this year in a building designed by architect Frank Gehry. Siegfried and Roy's performance will air Friday in a one-hour special on ABC's "20/20." During Horn's long rehabilitation, both men remained devoted to their exotic habitat on the Las Vegas Strip. The Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage hotel-casino houses lions, tigers and leopards. Fischbacher, 69, has called it Horn's "reason to get up in the morning." The pair have said they believe Montecore sensed Horn was having a mini-stroke and was dragging him to safety, rather than attacking him. Animal experts have disputed that theory. After a two-year review, federal investigators never determined what set off the tiger. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did find that the "Siegfried & Roy" show failed to protect the audience because it had no barrier separating the exotic animals from the crowd. The illusionists' production company, S&R Productions, received a letter of noncompliance but was not fined. ___ By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Has anyone noticed how much harsher the language has become about the incident?
Words like "mauled", "sunk his teeth into" and like that are being used. It has changed considerably from the "tiger was protecting him" story at first. They are indeed legends though and I think will be tremendously missed on the stage. That quote is very inspiring. "Within all of us there is an illusive melody, which when heard and followed will lead you to the fulfillment of your fondest dreams."
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Randwill Inner circle 1914 Posts |
My memory of the coverage of the tragedy at the time is that the "tiger was protecting him" line was coming from S & R's camp. The language in this current account is a more objective read on the event.
I was also surprised to read that: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture did find that the "Siegfried & Roy" show failed to protect the audience because it had no barrier separating the exotic animals from the crowd. The illusionists' production company, S&R Productions, received a letter of noncompliance but was not fined." Do current Vegas shows that employ big cats and other wild animals have barriers separating the animals from the audience? Randwill |
Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-03-01 12:05, Dannydoyle wrote: Good post Danny. Animals are an emotional issue. I, for one, am waiting for a notice from The U.S. Department of Agriculture finding that I am failing to protect my audience from unruly bunny rabbits and attack doves.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Last Show.
Incredible History. Truly Inspiring. Thanks for the Memories!
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Scott Compton Special user Hampton, VA 747 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-03-01 12:57, Randwill wrote: Yeah, a lot of things changed as a result of this incident. The USDA is responsible for the new regulations that keep the animals in the cages at all times now. It has affected shows all over the US.
Magic is an art. I am merely a tour guide.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Compton-Magician/160270640674735 "You are the magic" Jay Ose to Albert Goshman |
Jonathan Smith Regular user 125 Posts |
In all the years S&R performed in Vegas it is truly amazing a derranged cat never leaped in to the audience or caused any other (that we know of) harm or injury to cast or crew.
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
The last time I saw the S&R show
I was down in the front and when a white tiger turned around on stage, his tale swatted me across the face, I made a mental note not to sit ring-side again.... Magically, Walt |
danatasmagic New user 69 Posts |
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
While I never cared for their style, I do believe that these two loved performing. It is truly sad what happened to Roy.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
cardone Special user 860 Posts |
That was a touching TV special .... Roy has come a long way ....good luck to them both ,and I hope they find peace in their show biz retirement.
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SeasideShowman Elite user Myrtle Beach, SC 443 Posts |
Found on the MagicNewsWire:
" Norme Clarke’s quotes a “spy” in his column, hinting at several “irregularities” during the recent Siegfried & Roy performance to benefit the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. The article hints that there may have been a stand-in for Roy and that the Tiger seen on stage may not have been Montecore, the cat involved in Horn’s Injury. “The weirdest thing that happened Saturday, said my spy, “was the faux pas, when the curtain came up on the small box and a masked person was inside while the Siegfried & Roy figures were across the stage. That other person was never seen in rehearsals. It was a mistake,” he said, a moment that made some in the audience suspicious that the switcheroo was on.” The SARMOTI manager, Barry Yuman denied both accusations. “Roy said, ‘That’s who’s working with me.’ This (night) was also about Montecore, wanting him to be part of the farewell. He saved Roy’s life,” Yuman said. Of reports that there was a stand-in needed because Horn was suffering from a condition that causes bleeding in the lungs: “That’s crazy crap. Roy has nothing wrong with him. He is in perfect health considering he’s gone through this very debilitating experience.” Hmmm, let the suppositions begin !! SeasideShowman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I didn't care if they were laughing at me or laughing with me ... as long as they were laughing" - Unknown
www.MagicAtTheBeach.org "I'm with it" |
Randwill Inner circle 1914 Posts |
I haven't seen the show yet. Is it likely that a stand-in was needed for 'magic purposes', unrelated to Roy's medical condition? The original post contains an account that uses the phrase, "his face covered with a skeletal mask". We all know what that usually means.
Randwill |
Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
No, Roy was not doing any box jumping. He made Siegfried appear and aided in a transposition of Siegfried.
-Matt
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