Until Roy’s fall one of the longest running, best attended, financially successful Las Vegas shows was Siegfried & Roy. This was a combination magic show/three-ring circus extravaganza performed by master illusionists Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn. Using their trademarks enormous white tigers as companions and cohorts in their performances, Siegfried & Roy awed and amazed crowds with their innovative magic and their fearless use of those big cats.

Then on October 3rd, 2003, something went terribly wrong. In an instant, the hard wall of reality came crashing down on these master illusionists. On stage Roy slipped and fell. The relatively young 600 pound tiger Montecore was spooked or scared. He sprang at the downed Roy, grabbed him by the neck and dragged him away.

Critically injured…