Siegfried and Roy
On those rare occasions when one finds themselves thinking dreamily about white tigers, thoughts about Siegfried and Roy cannot be far behind. This magical duo has been performing tricks (the legal kind) with the help of their white tigers for decades.
The partnership began in 1959. Both of them were working on an ocean liner called The Bremen in 1959. Siegfried was employed as a steward, and in off time performed magic on stage. Roy had managed to smuggle pet cheetah on board. Sharing a number of common interests, not the least of which was magic and a love for exotic cats, the pair became companions and partners in magic. Since then they have toured the world with their act and have featured the big cats that they both love so much.
In 1982 they began to specialize in rare white tigers (white tigers die quickly in the wild due to the lack of camouflage). The animals became so entwined with the magicians that cats became their signature animal.
In 1990 the found a home at the Mirage Resort on the Las Vegas strip in 1990. It was here that they became one of the most popular acts that ever performed in the city. A showroom was built especially for them, where their spectacular show featured disappearing tigers, pyrotechnics, and some of the most mind numbing costumes known to man.
The act came to a screeching halt on the 3rd of October, 2003, when Roy was attacked and seriously injured by Montcore, a seven year old tiger that weighed over 600 lbs. Following this incident their show at the Mirage was closed permanently, and the performing future of Siegfried and Roy is still murky.
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