When Steve Wynn purchased the Castaways in 1987 from Hughes Tool Company, he had a dream of a resort that "that will usher in a new Las Vegas". The New Haven, Connecticut born Wynn already had a major investment in the Golden Nugget and various casinos in Atlantic City when he purchased the property. This was to be the flagship to his dream corporation.
"Our goal was to build a hotel so overriding in its stature, that it would be a reason in and of itself for visitors to come to Las Vegas in much the same way that Disney attracts people to Orlando, Florida." - Steve Wynn
The resort, which was to be called the Golden Nugget on the Strip, went into the planning stages.
The $750 million, three-winged, Y-shaped, 30 story tower The Mirage, the first hotel casino resort built on the Strip in 15 years, opened on November 22, 1989, with 3,044 rooms. The Mirage sits well back from the Strip. Designed by architect Joel Bergman, twenty-four carat gold-tinted glass spangles the white structure. The Mirage sat on 100 acres and was bordered by Caesars Palace and at the time bare land totalling 2,200 feet of frontage on the Strip (later to be Treasure Island). Counting the grounds, resort, pools, parking, etc., the Mirage occupied 1.9 million square feet of land.
Wynn was asked to compare himself with Donald Trump.
"He likes to be thought of as the owner of buildings; I like to be seen as the guy who designs and builds them. The only part I ever enjoyed was the building, the design. I've always been the design guy." - Steve Wynn
To picture where the Castaways was on the property, it would be in the middle of the lagoon and main driveway entrance at The Mirage.
The Mirage's signboard, on the south side of the property is a squared-off, flat topped ladder sign. It was designed by Ad-Art's Charles Barnard. At 160 feet tall, the sign is not the tallest sign on the Strip, but it is certainly the best situated. At the top of the The Mirage sign is a preprinted fabric panel featuring the headliners, Siegfried and Roy. Below it is a 16-color matrix sign which performs like a big-screen television to display its attractions. In it, a field of primary-colored light bulbs can be controlled by a computer program to mix and flash, thereby creating movement and different colors.
The Polynesian theme of The Mirage has been concentrated into a compact volcanic island, sitting in a roadside lagoon, surrounded by palms, ferns, and waterfalls. Every 15 minutes after dark, the volcano erupts in a geyser of steam tinted with red lights 100 feet above the water. Gas jets in the lagoon spread flames across the water's surface.
Architect Joel Bergman was an admirer of Walt Disney and studied the subtleties of Disneyland's designs in creating spaces where people enjoy themselves. The Mirage's sidewalk was prepared as a theater for performance. The sidewalks meander along the edge of the lagoon where, originally, a low beam and plants provided a measure of protection from the traffic.
A large transparent geodesic dome near the entry encloses a forest of palms. The white porte cochere adorned with full-length louvered shutters that suggest an arrival at a colonial government house in another era. Around the perimeter, glimpses of the palm forest under the dome, or the array of big screen televisions in the sports book, or the French street leading to the finer restaurants encourage visitors to wander. The pool patio, including a dolphin aquarium is configured with fake rocks into an island motif.
The front entrance is filled with a lush and verdant indoor antrum filled with palm trees that reach 60 feet above waterfalls and pools which meander through a forest of rich tropical flora including banana trees, elephant ears and tropical orchids.
In the registration lobby there is a 20,000 gallon salt water coral reef aquarium stocked with sharks, pufferfish and angelfish swimming between the buildings of a sunken undersea city.
The guest rooms contain imported Spanish and Indonesian marble in the entryways of the rooms and in the flooring, bathtubs and counter tops of the bathrooms. The artwork including florals, landscapes and still-lifes enhances the residential quality and elegance of the decor. The rooms are deluxe single and double queen rooms, super deluxe rooms, king parlors, hospitality suites, one and two bedroom tower suites and penthouse suites. The Mirage was designed to give every room a view of either the pool, the mountain or the Strip. The Mirage also contains six opulent lanai bungalows each with its own private garden and pool as well as a collection of eight extraordinary two and three bedroom private residences.
The Mirage has a 40,000 foot Grand Ballroom and 20,000 foot Ballroom. Along with a dozen smaller meeting rooms, the convention facilities accommodate groups from five to 5,000.
Contained in The Mirage are restaurants such as Caribe Cafe, the Noodle Kitchen, Mirage Buffet, California Pizza Kitchen, Coconuts, Kokomo's, Mikado, Moongate, Onda, Restaurant Alex Stratta, Samba Grill and Paradise Cafe.
The Mirage's attractions are meant not only for families but also for educational purposes. They include:
This attraction was the personal dream of Wynn whose conception of a tropical oasis in the desert included a habitat for one of the world's most intelligent and graceful animals, the dolphin.
This habitat achieves two purposes on the Strip and to the City of Las Vegas.
1. To provide a healthy and nurturing environment for dolphins and to increase the public's awareness;
2. To make a commitment to protect and conserve marine mammals and their environments.
An educational program, developed by The Mirage animal care staff and the Clark County School system, provides students with an opportunity to visit the Habitat and learn about the dolphins, as well as the fragility of the planet's marine ecology. The Habitat also offers community outreach programs such as lectures, workshops and special events on a regular basis.
Specialists from around the world were asked to lend their expertise and ideas in order to create a safe, healthy and state-of-the-art facility for the dolphins. The size of the pools, 2.5 million gallons, exceeds government regulations by more than eight times. Wynn also made a commitment to display only dolphins already in captivity. No dolphins will be taken from the wild for the Habitat. When last seen, the Habitat is home to four adult and four young Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.
Siegfried and Roy have come a long way since their days of performing at the old MGM Grand and the Frontier, including bronze statue busts of them in front of The Mirage. Not only has Wynn accomplished his own dream in The Mirage but Siegfried and Roy accomplished theirs. Months before the resort opened, Siegfried & Roy signed a five year $58 million contract to perform at the Mirage.
Shortly after the opening of Siegfried and Roy, a rumor emerged that Roy Horn had died shortly before the opening, a victim of AIDS. It was reported that shortly before the opening Siegfried and a gaunt looking Roy went overseas to test the show. Roy, who had routinely hired family members to work in the show had a younger look-alike relative who had a passion for the tigers. Roy had been training this relative to be in the show, having a close relationship with the tigers.
After they returned to Vegas, Roy appeared at the funeral of Frontier orchestra leader Al Alvarez very healthy looking, not at all like he left. To add fuel to the fire, the cousin did not return to the with the show and no explanation was given as to what happened to him. Since there was no hard evidence either proving or disproving the rumor, the rumor quietly went away.
In 1992, the show was billed Kenneth Feld presents Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage.
In 1990, the Theatre Mirage showcased Kenny Rogers, Siegfried & Roy.
In 1992, the Theatre Mirage showcased the Pointer Sisters/Ralph Harris, Siegfried & Roy, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers.
In 1993, Mirage showcased Kenneth Feld presents Siegfried & Roy, George Strait, and Cirque Du Soleil's Nouvelle Experience.
In June of 1995, Mirage completed remodeling 1,100 rooms at an expensive averaging $19,000 a room. The Theatre Mirage was changed to Siegfried and Roy Theatre. Wynn announced the change in name, explaining that entertainment was the centerpiece of a Las Vegas hotel and Siegfried and Roy had generated $250 million in revenue through ticket prices along since thieir show opened in February of 1990.
In 1995, Siegfried & Roy received the second annual Liberace Legend Award.
In 1995, Mirage showcased Siegfreid & Roy, and Barry Manilow.
In 1996, patrons of the resort were thrilled to see actor Clint Eastwood walking around in the resort. The 65 year old Eastwood was in town to marry 30 year old Dina Ruiz, a Salinas, California, anchorwoman. A private ceremony took place at the home of Mirage owner Steve Wynn.
In 1996, Siegfried & Roy presented the Liberace Legend Award to the third year recipient, Liza Minnelli.
In 1996, Mirage starred in Sgt. Bilko.
During this year the Siegfried and Roy Theater showcased Siegfried and Roym, as well as Alabama. The Lagoon Saloon showcased entertainment nightly. Baccarat Bar showcased piano music nightly.
In 1997, she had a role in Las Vegas Vacation.
During this year Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden officially opened to the public. Besides Siegfried & Roy, Steve Wynn, Senator Richard Bryan, Mayor Jan Jones, Clark County Commissioners Lorraine Hunt and Lance Malone, their producer Kenneth Feld, and international dignitaries from Great Britain, Argentina, Lithuania, Lyberia, Austria, China, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya, Moracco, the Russian Federation and many other countries were in attendance. It was a treasured moment for Siegfried & Roy seeing their dream come true - a place where their cherished animals could have more freedom of movement than any animals in captivity on earth.
In the Secret Garden they reveal their most cherished and well-guarded secret - that the world's most exotic animals can live side by side with one another and with mankind. Siegfried & Roy are seeking to renew the public's sense of responsibility to preserve nature. The Garden represented what is possible when humans and animals work, play and share their lives together.
Six rare animal breeds reside within the Garden. The Royal White Tigers of Nevada, the White Lions of Timbayati, heterozygous Bengal Tigers (possessing both tawny and white genes), an Asian elephant, a panther and a snow leopard. "We believe in our hearts that when any species vanishes from this Earth, all of us are in some way diminished." - Siegfried
White tigers, native to India, were believed to be extinct until 1951, when the Maharaja of Rewa found a white cub. Beginning with two striped white tigers and a snow-white tiger cub, the duo founded a breeding program in association with the Zoological Society of Cincinnati in the early 1980s. The program has grown to include more than 40 of the animals. They were hoping to perform the same magic with the White Lions of Timbavati.
The Secret Garden offers an educational program to children enrolled in the Clark County School District. The Haven is open to the public six days a week.
Also in Siegfried & Roy's world is the Royal White Tiger Habitat. Recognized by National Geographic for their efforts, Siegfried & Roy have dedicated their lives to preserving and protecting these animals which are now extinct in the wild. The Habitat has an open air environment which features a swimming pool with fountains and simulated mountain terrain for the tigers' enjoyment and the public's entertainment. The facility's white setting gives the animals a sense of security by allowing them to blend into the background and special slanted glass afford better viewing, eliminates glare and helps control the temperature. The tigers are rotated continuously in and out of the facility throughout the day. When not appearing in the Habitat, they enjoy their own spacious living environment and period excursions into the countryside. This Habitat is open 24 hours a day to the public and is free of charge.
On December 25, 1997, Siegfried & Roy participated in the birth of the newest addition to their white lions of Timbavati, weighing in at 2 pounds, `2 ounces. The little female was the first white lion born in Vegas, bringing the total of white lions to 12. White lions are extinct in the wild. The baby lion overcame a roller coaster first few days of life and was said to be doing much better.
"There have been many sleepless nights since she arrived and we are still concerned about her. She is a little girl that has captured my heart and despite what she has been through, she's very affectionate with a great spirit and loves to be close. She has responded to everyone' s prayers, cards, telephone calls and Internet wishes. She has more than doubled her weight. You can sense that she's determined to make her parents, Secret and Hope proud. The way she continues to prosper, she could become the foundation of the future. That's why I'm naming her Prosperity." - Roy, February 1998.
On February 5, 1998, Siegfried and Roy gave two while male lions, born in Germany, to the Cincinnati Zoo. The two males have the same father but different mothers. This is the first time that the illusionists/conservationists have given any of their animals to a zoo and it also the first time outside of Vegas that people can see white lions in a permanent habitat. No other zoo has them.
In April of 1998, little Prosperity was named the mascot of the U.S. Senate by Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada). The senator praised Siegfried & Roy for their efforts in saving the white lions and white tigers from extinction. With only 25 white lions in the world today, they are rarer than the panda or a Rembrandt.
During this year the Siegfried & Roy Theater showcased Siegfried and Roy.
In 1999, Mirage showcased Alabama, Bill Cosby, Lionel Richie, and Kenneth Feld presents Siegfried & Roy.
Siegfried & Roy brought in the new year with 7:00 and 10:15pm shows. Tickets were $100 per person and included a split of champagne
On February 24, 2000, Kirk Kerkorian and MGM Grand Inc., conducted a $5.4 billion takeover offer to purchase Mirage Resorts, Inc. Kerkorian offered $17 per share for Mirage Resorts, either all in cash or a combination of $7 per share in cash and $10 worth of MGM stock, a bid worth about $3.28 billion. MGM would also assume Mirage Resort's $2.1 billion debt.
Just four hours after the announcement, Mirage shareholders filed a class action lawsuit against Mirage, Chief Executive Steve Wynn, and six board members in the Clark County District Court to obtain the highest possible price for their stock. The plaintiffs consisted of Crandon Capital Partners, Richard Ardezzone, Janis Zvokel, Naline Yassin and J.M.M. Management.
The shareholders were worried that Mirage Resorts may not give the offer and others a fair hearing because the board members may lose their management grip should the company be sold. If Mirage Resorts was sold, the present management maybe out of a job. It was reported that MGM's offer may just be a low bid Kerkorian, and the plaintiffs were attempting to obtain the highest price.
It had been alleged that Mirage Resorts board members breached their fiduciary duty to maximize shareholder value by wrongfully refusing to properly consider a bona fide offer, one that represented a substantial premium over the market price for the company from MGM Grand.
Mirage did not reject MGM's offer and the proposal was to be considered by the board at a future meeting.
It was reported that if Kerkorian obtained Mirage Resorts, MGM Grand would create a huge share of the high-end market. The "financial might" of MGM-Mirage, as MGM Grand President Jim Murren has called it, would make it extremely difficult for competitors to catch up.
On February 25, 2000, Wall Street analysts and Las Vegas casino observers guessed Mirage Chairman Wynn's next move. Though Wynn may begin negotiating a higher price with MGM Grand, Wall Street is buzzing with talk of new bids for the Las Vegas company including Harrah's Entertainment, (Harrah's and Rio), or Park Place Entertainment, (Flamingo Las Vegas, Bally's, Las Vegas Hilton, and Caesars Palace).
Wynn, being a Vegas long-timer and a business gambler, had some on Wall Street speculating he would take the risky move of taking Mirage Resorts private in a leveraged buyout, and that Carl Icahn, owner of the Stratosphere hotel-casino, might be willing to help him.
Harrah's was the most widely discussed competitor given the company's lack of a large presence on the Strip, and its need for a high-end portfolio. Another significant factor was Wynn's friendship with Harrah's Chief Executive Phil Satre, raising the possibility if Wynn sought a white knight, he would approach Harrah's. Harrah's was interested in acquiring additional Las Vegas Strip capacity and had been considering an expansion at the Rio.
Park Place was seen as less of a possibility, since it was trying to digest its $3 billion purchase of Caesars World Inc. Another problem was the rivalry between Wynn and Park Place Chief Executive Arthur Goldberg. Still, analysts and observers insisted Park Place could not be totally dismissed.
Some speculated Icahn would be willing to be Wynn's partner. Icahn was licensed, so he and Steve Wynn could form an alliance. There was speculation that Icahn was using the Stratosphere to get his foot on the Strip so he could get his license and start dealing. Others downplay the Icahn possibility, saying it wasn't in keeping with Icahn's reputation as a "bottom-fisher." Icahn was adding to his casino portfolio, but he's bought most out of bankruptcy, and Mirage was not a distressed corporation.
Some argued that Wynn would simply tell the world that Mirage Resorts was not for sale, as he did when Kerkorian took a stake in Wynn's company in 1999. Analyst, Joe Coccimiglio of Prudential Securities, had predicted that's probably what will happen, saying the odds of a buyout by MGM Grand were less than 25%.
Another problem was with the Strip's other major players who simply couldn't afford to let MGM Grand swallow Mirage Resorts. This may have forced the Strip's other major companies to enter the fray, should MGM Grand and Mirage Resorts begin dealing.
On March 6, 2000, it was announced that Mirage Resorts has been sold to Kirk Kerkorian/MGM Grand for $4.4 billion in cash. The assets ranged from Mirage's $1.60 billion Bellagio resort to the MGM Grand, the national's largest hotel. MGM also assumed $2 billion in Mirage debt. MGM executives agreed to the current deal after the stock market closed on March 3, 2000, and intensive negotiations continued through the weekend on details. The transaction must be approved by Mirage stockholders and was expected to close by the end of the year.
Wynn owned 23 million shares of Mirage stock or 12% of the company. The deal brought him $483 million.
It was expected the new company would retain the MGM name. The combined companies included 14 properties. Mirage owned the Bellagio, Boardwalk, Mirage, Treasure Island and Golden Nugget resorts in Las Vegas; the Beau Rivage in Biloxi in Mississippi, and the Golden Nugget in Laughlin, Nevada. The company also owned half interest in the Monte Carlo hotel-casino on the Strip.
In 2000, it was reported that Siegfried & Roy were close to reaching 5,000 performances. In attendance during some of these performances were Anthony Hopkins, Mike Douglas, and Melissa Manchester.
Siegfried and Roy's contract with the Mirage would end on December 31, 2001. Rumor had it that they would not renew.
On April 4, 2000, Danny Gans began performing in the Danny Gans Theatre.
In May of 2000, the TV show Nash Bridges aired episode Jackpot Lost which costarred Mirage and Desert Inn.
On June 28, 2000, Wynn agreed to purchase $17.2 million in assets from his former company, MGM Mirage. Wynn purchased Mirage Resorts' Gulfstream III jet and a furnished apartment in New York City. Wynn held the right to purchase both assets under his employment agreement with Mirage Resorts. The combined company now calls itself MGM Mirage.
In late 2000, Siegfried and Roy were honored with Hollywood's prestigious Award of Excellence for bringing family entertainment to the performances at the Mirage and to the movie screen with their IMAX 3D film Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box. Past recipients over the award's 25 year history included Ted Turner, Liza Minnelli, Jack Lemmon and Bette Davis.
The Magic Box delves into the difficult childhoods of both magicians, raised in dysfunctional homes in war-torn Nazi Germany.
"We're honored that our film and our life's philosophy is recognized by an organization that shares our beliefs. Family values are very important to us because of our difficult upbringing that's explained in the movie. We thrive on the enjoyment we bring to all ages because we didn't experience it when we were young." - Roy Uwe Ludwig Horn
For New Years Eve 2000, Siegfried & Roy's appeared at 10:15pm. Tickets were $125 and included a split of champagne and party favors.
In early 2001, Mirage was tie in the What's On Visitor's Choice Award for Best Pool with Mandalay Bay.
In 2001, the resort contained the following restaurants: Alex Stratta, California Pizza Kitchen, Caribe Cafe, Kokomo's, Mikado, Moongate, The Noodle Kitchen, Onda, Paradise Cafe, Roasted Bean, & Samba Grill.
In March of 2001, Siegfried & Roy signed a contract with MGM Mirage that will keep them at the resort until December, 2004.
In May of 2001, Siegfried & Roy's show was attended by Cher. She told the pair that although she had been performing in Vegas since the late 1960s, this was the first she had visited Vegas when not working on the Strip.
"I wanted to see why so many people come to Las Vegas, and I found out very quickly how much fun people can have." - Cher
In August of 2001, it was noted that Mirage is having a problem with Danny Gans and his agent Chip Lightman. The problem was that when former Mirage Chairman Steve Wynn signed Gans in 1999, it was with the understanding Gans would become the resort's principal entertainment feature, the docus of much entertainment-related market as Siegfried & Roy faded into their expected retirement. Since Siegfried & Roy signed a new contract, it means that Gans cannot expect the level of special attention anticipated back when his deal was first drafted.
On September 14, 2001, at 12:30pm all MGM Mirage properties observed a mandatory one-minute moment of silence in observance of the national day of remembrance in honor of the victims of the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. All activity in public areas, including casinos, came to a halt at Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mirage, Treasure Island, New York-New York, and Golden Nugget.
"We believe this is the most profound statement we can make, to stop everything. At 12:30 we will stop all activity in all public areas and observe a moment of silence in honor of those who have died or have been hurt, and in honor of those who have been working so hard to find survivors.
" - Alan Feldman, MGM Mirage Spokesman
Mirage began its marquee observances on the night of September 11th, when it displayed "God Bless America" on the MGM Grand sign. That message also displayed on the marquees at other MGM MIRAGE Strip properties.
MGM stated that the effects of September 11th reflected a substantial decline. All the MGM Mirage hotels on the Strip averaged an unprecedented low 64% occupany level from the 11th to the 30th. This reduction also resulted in lower casino, food and every, entertainment and retail revenues. Business strengthened through the rest of the year and by the end of 2001, occupancy levels had returned to normal. Room rates also improved but were not yet back to normal. To respond to the decline the Nevada MGM Mirage resorts had to lay off 6,4000 employees total, and an additional 315 were laid off or terminated at Beau Rivage in Biloxi.
In 2001, Siegfriend & Roy set a record when they reached their 5,000th live performance before more than 20,000,000 patrons in Las Vegas. This includes their previous appearances at the Frontier, Tropicana, and MGM Grand, as well as Mirage. Click Here for a recent picture of Billy Crystal visiting the dynamic duo.
Also in 2001, Picasso at Bellagio and Renoir at The Mirage each received the AAA Five Diamond Award and the coveted Mobil five Star award making them two of ten restauarnts in the nation to have been honored.
In 2001, Danny Gans Theatre showcased Danny Gans, and Ray Romano (5/15-17). The Siegfried & Roy Theatre will be showcased Siegfried & Roy.
In 2002, the resort listed their lounges as Baccarat Bar, and Lagoon Saloon & Onda Lounge.
The Mirage also commenced her $32 million room redesign on 2,767 guest rooms and debuted the 90,0000 square foot convention and meeting rooms.
In early 2002, Siegfried & Roy was visited by Tom Cruise/Penelope Cruz, and Charo.
In May 2002 - Casino operators reached contract agreements with the union representing waitresses and housekeepers, virtually eliminating the prospect of a strike. The latest agreements between the Culinary Workers Union and the casinos were reached with Mandalay Resort Group, MGM Mirage, Park Place, Aztar Corp., and Harrah's. The new agreements cover about three-quarters of the 40,000 cooks, waitresses and housekeepers the union represents in Las Vegas. Under the new tentative contracts, workers will receive anaverage of $3.24 in increased hourly wages and benefits over the new contract's five-year life. Much of that will go to pay for higher health insurance costs, which workers will continue to receive free of charge.
In 2002, Siegfried & Roy Theatre showcased Paul Anka (5/9-20; 11/30-12/7), Siegfried & Roy, and Siegfried & Roy present Darren Romeo, The Voice of Magic (afternoons, dark Sundays & Mondays); Danny Gans Theater showcased Danny Gans, Dennis Miller (7/20-21; 10/18-19), and Ray Romano (5/17-19; 6/14-15; 8/16-18).
On October 3, 2003, Roy's 59th birthday, one of the tigers attacked him during a performance, biting his neck and dragging him off stage just feet from the audience. People attending the show said the white tiger appeared to lung at Roy and that he tried to beat the animal off with a microphone. Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said stage crew members used fire extinguishers to distract the animal and free Horn. The tiger involved in the attack, was a 600 pound, 7-year-old male named Montecore, who was quarantined at the hotel.
Horn brought Montecore on stage, and then told the tiger to lie down. Montecore didn't listen to Horn's instructions. Instead, he grabbed Horn's arm in his mouth. Horn struck Montecore with his microphone, trying to get him to loosen his grip. Montecore then grabbed Horn by his throat, dragging him backstage where handlers subdued the tiger by spraying him with a fire extinguisher.
"It happened so fast. I was standing on the side, and it � things happened, what we did, we did a thousand, a million times, the same thing. And this time something happens, and it went so fast, I even can't explain it." - Siegfried, October 8, 2003
"We honestly thought it was part of the show, we didn't know what was going on," said Sharna Wiblen. Andy Cushman said Horn "looked like a rag doll" as the tiger dragged him off the stage. Cushman said Horn appeared alone on stage with the tiger about 45 minutes into the show and told the audience the animal was making its debut. (This was just part of the act as the tiger had appeared in the show beginning when he was six months old.) After the attack, Cushman said, Siegfried appeared on stage and stated to the 1,500 member audience that the performance was canceled. "I knew he was in trouble right away. I was horrified," said Diane Weightman, who was in the audience. "I wanted to jump on stage and help him. I didn't know what to do."
Witnesses stated that as Horn walked across the stage with the tiger on a leash, the animal grabbed his right arm. Horn began hitting the tiger over the head with the microphone. The tiger then grabbed Horn by the throat and dragged him across the stage. Cast and crew backstage sprayed the tiger with a fire extinguisher, and he released Horn. Trainers and others applied first aid supplies from kits backstage.
People in the audience, including a group of Australian tourists in the front row of the theater, thought the attack was part of the act.
"Roy seemed to be playing with the tiger when it grabbed his arm. He hit it with his microphone, then he was grabbed by the neck and dragged off the stage, and then you look at the staff and they had a bit of horror in their eyes." - David Strudwick of Australia
Maureen Owen, performance director for the act, said she was there but did not see the attack itself. "It happened so fast. I reached him after it happened."
"It was horrifying. We knew right away how grave it was. He lost a lot of blood at the theater." - Andrea Timbol, a spotlight operator. ""
The show was videotaped, but the tape has not been released.
Clark County Fire Department paramedics and Southwest Ambulance responded to the hotel in less than five minutes, county fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.
Horn was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery to the neck area. Horn's manager, Bernie Yuman reported that doctors said the surgery went as expected and that Horn was in critical but stable condition. "Roy has had a rapport with exotic animals for 44 years," but he never takes that for granted, Yuman told NBC's "Today" show.
"At the end of the day, when you perform that many shows and have no incident what so ever, this is the anomaly. I would say that most of us are traumatized. Roy is a very, very strong-willed person as well as having physical strength. I'm cautiously optimistic. "It's touching to hear from so many people all at a short time. - Bernie Yuman
Feldman said Horn had a serious injury to the left side of his neck. Horn was able to talk with the ambulance staff on the way to the hospital, Clark County Fire spokesman Bob Leinbach said.
"When paramedics reached Horn, his assistants were trying to stop the bleeding, which was the greatest threat to Horn's life. He had trouble talking, but he was still breathing on the ambulance ride. He was fighting the breathing tube, which is a good sign. The bleeding had stopped when the ambulance arrived at the hospital." - Bob Leinbach
Horn spent more than two hours in surgery and was taken to surgery after suffering a stroke on the morning of October 4th. The extent of damages done in the attack weren't fully known. Horn's recovery could take weeks or months.
Dr. Stephen Miller, Horn's personal physician, said the tiger's bite missed the major artery, the carotid. "If it would have caught the carotid ..." Miller said, his voice trailing to silence. Miller said, based on the information he had received, Horn could be expected to be in for a fairly long rehabilitation.
Feldman said on October 4, 2003, that the show was "closed indefinitely." He said 267 show employees met at the Mirage hotel-casino, where hotel managers encouraged them to find new jobs.
"We asked the cast and crew to start looking at other opportunities in their lives now. Some may find work at the sister property MGM Grand." - Alan Feldman
The Mirage employes 200 people and 67 people are employees of producer Kenneth Feld.
Steve Wynn also offered jobs to some of the workers at his Wynn Las Vegas resort expected to open in 2005, Feldman said. Wynn visited with Horn on October 4th.
"For more than four decades, I have had the great privilege of standing at the side of this remarkable man, and I will continue to do so during this very challenging time," - Siegfried Fischbacher, October 4, 2003
On October 5, 2003, it was reported that Horn was on a ventilator, heavily medicated but able to respond to voices and touch, an official with MGM Mirage Resort said.
"We are guarded, optimistic. We are pleased the news isn't worse than it is. We're not concerned with with the impact to the hotel; we're only concerned about Roy. We can't say whether it will be two weeks, six months or six years, we just don't know." - Bobby Baldwin, MGM Mirage Resort President
Hospital officials would not provide any more information, but the mood was somber among the host of Las Vegas notables who went to see the magician.
Cast and crew members of 'Siegfried and Roy' gather at University Medical Center for a candlelight vigil in honor of Roy Horn on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)
On October 6, 2003, Horn remained in critical but stable condition, doctors at University Medical Center said.
"Because of the fact that we are embarking on the third day, the doctors are cautiously optimistic about his condition. He continues to communicate with us. The doctors tell us that the more time that passes the better we are. Horn had never been so much as scratched during a show in 44 years working with the big cats. The initial impact was devastation, but the last place Roy would place the blame would be on the animal." - Bernie Yuman"The doctors asked him to move his left hand, then his right hand and then give thumbs up, which he was able to do." Michaels said. "That is encouraging but does not mean he is out of the woods yet." - Jenn Michael, Mirage Spokeswoman
"Roy's bond with his animals was singular. There wasn't a person who saw this show who wasn't affected by it. - Kenneth Feld, President of Fel Entertainment, Inc., show producer
The animal that attacked Horn, a 7-year-old tiger named Montecore, is in quarantine at the Mirage for 10 days according to state law. The Mirage and the Nevada Division of Wildlife will investigate the incident". - Alan Feldman
"Clark County has no jurisdiction in the incident. It would be under our jurisdiction if the animal escaped." - Eric Pappa, County Spokesman
It was reported that people stood outside University Medical Center's Trauma Unit throughout the weekend awaiting word on Horn's condition.
Kurt Mecklenberg, who moved with his wife, Mayme, to Las Vegas four years ago from Placerville, Calif., said he wanted to give blood to Horn because he was a fellow German but hospital officials told Mecklenberg they had enough blood.
"It is my duty. I want to give him my blood. I want him to stay alive. All over the world people depend on Roy to take care of animals." - Kurt Mecklenberg"I loved the show. Roy really handled the animals really well." - Mayme Mecklenberg
David Valdez, an usher at the International Church of Las Vegas, said prayers at the entrance to UMC's Trauma Center. "He's done a lot for Las Vegas and we believe in God for a miracle," Valdez said.
Yvette Young knew Horn when she worked as a circus performer for the Shriners Circus and later when she performed at Circus Circus. Now a costume and wardrobe manager at the Tropicana, Young said that she attended Siegfried and Roy's first show at the Frontier hotel-casino in 1981.
"It was wonderful. I had to come to see how he was. - Yvette YoungRay Horn is fearless among animal trainers, but the reality is they are still wild cats. Unfortunately, reality hit the stage (Friday) night." - Pat Dingle, Director of Las Vegas Zoo, and acquaintence of Siegfried and Roy
Sheriff Bill Young and dozens of Metro Police K-9 officers visited the hospital to lend their support to Horn. Siegfried and Roy sponsored the annual K-9 trials, officers said.
Magician Lance Burton found eight messages on his cell phone when he left the stage at his show at the Monte Carlo on Friday night.
"We're all shocked and concerned. We all pray that he is going to pull through. The magicians in this town are a tight-knit group. It's like it happened to a member of your family. It's really tragic this happened on his birthday. He's a fighter. He has a very strong spirit. " - Lance Burton"I was at Roy's birthday party the night before. I have known Roy for decades and look forward to the big birthday bash his producers throw for him each year. All the 'La Cage' cast knows the magical duo. Roy was on my invitation list for my birthday party next month. There were about 600 guests, mostly show people, having a great time. And then�the next day, the tragedy hit the newswires. We were all on that same stage. It's uncanny. It's incredible and so sad. Like all performers up and down the Strip, I immediately removed my Sigfried and Roy jokes from my monologue. The cast of 'La Cage' and I extend our deepest get well wishes to Roy and his family." - Frank Marino, An Evening At La Cage, Riviera
"Siegfried & Roy have been an institution in this town. They helped give it the aura and sort of the faith that makes all the people here believe that if you believe in it, it can come true." - Andre Agassi
In other signs of support and faith, fellow Mirage performer Danny Gans dedicated the show to Horn during a preshow prayer meeting with his musicians. Harrah's comedy magician Mac King cut his closing segment, in which he promises the audience he will change himself into a white tiger and save them a ticket to see Siegfried & Roy.
"I don't know what I'm going to do from here on out, but I cut it today. I could hear people talking about (the attack) in line." - Mac King
Not only is Mirage worrying about Horn, but is also worried about the monies lost. She lost one of her biggest money-making shows. Now the resort has to figure a way to plug an annual revenue hole estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. MGM Mirage officials say it's too early to say who will replace the legendary headliners - a mainstay at the Las Vegas Strip property since 1990.
With the "Siegfried and Roy" show closed indefinitely, company executives will try to find a profitable replacement fast, but it won't be easy. The duo put on what was arguably the most successful show in Las Vegas history, said John Mulkey, a Bear Stearns gambling analyst. "It's safe to say that acts like Siegfried and Roy don't pop up overnight," Mulkey said but the casino could fill the pair's theater with bands or other acts that are easy to book.
Wall Street was still deciding Monday what effect the show's cancellation will have on The Mirage's bottom line. The show generated about $44 million in annual revenue and attracted nearly 400,000 people a year, according to UBS Investment Research in New York. David Anders, a gambling analyst with Merrill Lynch, wrote Monday that The Mirage will lose about $5 million a year in profits.
Alan Feldman said the tigers, lions and other exotic animals that live at the casino's Secret Garden attraction will remain on display.
On October 7, 2003, employees were talking about their layoff.
"They'll take care of us, don't worry," Emma Rendon said she told a fellow dancer in "Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage" on the day after Roy Horn's injury. But now, she and other cast members are angry about an abrupt Saturday send-off from the show that included one week of severance pay. MGM Mirage officials did not announce until Monday that the show had no chance of reopening.
"Honestly, we thought we were a little better than that and appreciated a little more than that by (show producer) Feld Entertainment. Siegfried and Roy (themselves) would give the shirts off their backs for us. To end like this? And on this night? Nobody was prepared. It left a dirty taste in my mouth. " - Emma Rendon
Before and even during a Saturday night meeting for cast and extended crew members, Rendon said she was more worried about Roy Horn than about her own future. But after that larger meeting, show producer Kenneth Feld separated the cast members on his payroll from those stagehands and ushers who work for MGM Mirage. That's when Feld told them that, for the dancers at least, the show was over and they could clean out their dressing rooms that night. Phil Misiura, the show's general manager for Feld Entertainment, said the producer wasn't required to offer any severance pay at all, but felt the severance was fair, using Broadway shows as a standard of comparison. "How many thousands of people got laid off after Sept. 11?" Misiura noted of a contract provision for catastrophic circumstances that could have excused the producers from any severance pay. Along with the extra week, the dancers were paid for the Friday show that ended abruptly when Horn was injured, plus Saturday and any of three sick days that hadn't been used. Their insurance benefits were extended to the end of the month. In a statement, Misiura wrote, "Feld Entertainment ... exceed(ed) their contractual obligations to the cast members by providing financial assistance, grief counseling, benefits and assistance in placing affected personnel with other productions."
Many dancers already have day jobs, including Renden, who works as a massage therapist at the MGM Grand Hotel. But Renden said she and other dancers feel it would have been fair to pay out the annual contract, which ran through Nov. 25, and to extend health benefits for three months.
Dancers note that stagehands and other MGM Mirage employees have a better chance of being reassigned within the hotel or transferred to another one.
Feld Entertainment also produces "Disney On Ice" and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Since 1999, Forbes magazine has listed Feld as one of America's richest people. In 2003, the magazine claimed that Feld is the 328th richest American, pegging his net worth at $775 million. "He could have paid (the difference) out of pocket change," Renden said. "He's not a liked man right now." Renden said dancers had "to fight as a group" for a raise after she joined the show three years ago. "We were working in the best show and not even making as much money as the worst show." Baker said Disney officials have told cast members they would be given first priority for auditions at Disney theme parks.
When Siegfried had a lingering bout with the flu that caused the show to be canceled for three weeks in early 2001, dancers said he paid them out of his own pocket. "From what I heard, Siegfried was highly upset that -- these were his friends and family, too -- that they were let off like that," said another dancer, Tiffany Baker. The 27-year-old dancer said she will keep working three other jobs while looking for yet another. She serves cocktails and dances at Coyote Ugly and teaches at a dance studio. But otherwise, she said, the timing is awful. Other Vegas shows aren't hiring; entertainers in those shows are still under contract. And Vegas has fewer stage shows, anyway. The next big production on the horizon is Cirque du Soleil's new show at the MGM, but Cirque hires few local dancers. "It kind of sucks. (Cirque) is coming in and taking over the town, but not gonna spread the wealth," Baker said.
Entertainers are worried about finances, especially a single mom who danced in the Siegfried & Roy show, and a married couple who danced in the show together, Baker said. On top of all that, she said, entertainers didn't get closure.
"A lot of people had been in Siegfried & Roy for over 13 years, so that was probably their last night on the stage. Which was out of everyone's control, but it's hard. Roy had his birthday party the night before. That was joyful. But he didn't know it was gonna be the last. Roy was in the best mood. He was just winking and smiling, and he was so happy. To witness what we saw, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. That was just horrible. " - Tiffany Baker
Renden said it's also hard to go from being an insider to "getting information from the news like everybody else. They are the world to us."
On October 8, 2003, Siegfried spoke about the show and Roy. Of course the first question was how he would feel about appearing with the tigers.
"I will be. I will be because this is my family, and Roy will be. This is our life. If I wouldn't do this, life would be � meant nothing. But the life what we lived would meant nothing. I know Roy all of these years. He always surprises us. Roy always comes through because I think Roy, he is the strongest man ever lived anyway. He has the strength like a tiger, you know. We'll get through this together. I'm sure he'll recover completely. He's over the worst. " - Siegfried, October 8, 2003
Siegfried said what happened may not be fully understood until Horn recovers. "He's going to tell us exactly, because what happened. He know what happened. He thinks like a tiger. He knows how a tiger reacts."
there was one thing Siegfriend was clear about - that Horn didn't think the tiger did anything wrong.
"He knew the tiger didn't react in a vicious way. He just was in a situation where he was kind of confused, and he took away from that confusion by taking Roy backstage. He reacted instinctively and was completely confused because Roy slipped. Roy noticed something was off with the tiger, so he departed from the routine and moved between the tiger and the audience. It was then that Roy stumbled. I'm not mad at the tiger because he didn't act out of badness." - Siegfried, October 8, 1002
It was further reported that Montecore really didn't mean to harm. When he saw Roy stumbling he grabbed on to his arm. Still not realizing he was causing injury he was trying to keep Roy from falling by doing what all cats do to loved ones, grab by the neck, and then bringing Roy to "safety" off stage. Siegfried stated that tigers do not know how fragile humans are so he was acting like a tiger saving another tiger.
Siegfried stated that he is communicating with Horn by holding hands and squeezing. "One time is yes and two times is no. I can see his eyes, and he is following me, and he smiles and he's positive."
Siegfried said Roy had two simple requests: "Please don't do any harm. Don't shoot the cat."
Montecore continues to be quarantined at the hotel, officials said.
It was also reported that Roy's neurosurgeon stated the wounds inflicted upon Roy were so severe that his survival borderd on the miraculous. Dr. Derek Duke confirmed that since Sunday afternoon, Horn has been "communicating with us and is responding nicely." The neurosurgeon said the prognosis was not good when Horn arrived at the hospital. "Mr. Horn's injury was extremely severe, and it is all but miraculous that he is alive at this time."
Duke said some media outlets have inaccurately reported that Horn was in a drug-induced coma, cautioned that the entertainer still faces a long road to recovery. "While we are quite pleased with his progress, Mr. Horn is in critical condition, and it will be quite some time before the extent of his recovery is known."
During a news conference, Bernie Yuman was asked whether Horn had suffered paralysis. "There is no long-term prognosis."
Show producers confirmed that the show has closed permanently after 5,750 performances. Yuman reiterated that there are no plans to destroy Montecore. "His future is bright. A tiger is a tiger. We understand." Feldman noted that Siegfried & Roy had not had an attack during almost 30,000 performances involving exotic animals. There were no physical barriers separating audience members from the animals that performed during the act.
"Professional handlers work with their animals to develop a relationship with trust and understanding. Through a vast amount of work, they know how to properly care for the animals when in a public setting. A steel mesh curtain was part of the show, but it was intended for a moment when numerous animals are on the stage together. That curtain had not fallen when Horn was attacked and cast members tried to free him from the tiger's jaws." - Alan Feldman, October 8, 2003
A carpenter sprayed the tiger with a fire extinguisher, causing the animal to free Horn. The fire extinguisher method was part of the show's emergency procedures, Feldman said, though not all cast members were aware of that.
"You're going to get different answers from the cast members because many of them don't know. The simple fact is, this is a prescribed safety measure. It doesn't mean every single person backstage would have known that." - Alan Feldman, October 8, 2003
Officials said there are few hard-and-fast rules designed to protect the audience in the event a tiger or other dangerous animal went berserk during a live show, though experts said such an incident is highly unlikely. Federal regulations state: "During public exhibition, any animal must be handled so there is minimal risk of harm to the animal and to the public, with sufficient distance and/or barriers between the animal and the general viewing public so as to assure the safety of animals and the public."
USDA spokesman Darby Holladay said on-site inspectors are the ones who define "sufficient." "And, obviously, they met the requirement for sufficient," he said of Siegfried & Roy's show. "They've had no non-compliant inspections in four years." He said beyond those regulations in the Animal Welfare Act, the Agriculture Department has no authority over the show. Other than worker safety issues, neither the state nor the county has authority to regulate safety, either, officials said.
"That's one area we are exploring, obviously, with the state and the feds. We're just looking at the display of animals in any shows, the barriers. That's an issue that probably should garner more scrutiny." - Thom Reilly, Clark County Manager, October, 2003
Reilly said there are no hard-and-fast plans for the county to begin regulating animal acts on the Strip, noting that Siegfried & Roy performed for decades without an audience member being harmed. Still, he said, Friday night's attack "does beg that question: There isn't any kind of barrier to protect the audience." He noted that animal experts have said a tiger's inclination is to adhere to its training and, in the case of chaos, run to its cage, which is apparently what Montecore did after mauling Horn.
That point was echoed by Tropicana illusionist Rick Thomas, who uses tigers in his show. He said fears of a tiger leaving the stage to run into the audience are unfounded.
Tigers are extremely territorial and habitual. Under duress, they only go to comfortable territory, like back to their cage. Part of the process for breaking in a show is to make sure the animals never get accustomed to the theater space beyond their stage and backstage surroundings. They don't go into foreign territory. The audience is the last place where they would want to be. The cat wants nothing to do with that." - Rick Thomas"Even with such safety precautions in place, use of tigers in shows can be risky. The key is to have total respect for the animals, realizing that they are wild and that the wildness can come out at anytime. The wrong thing to do is to try to shoot an attacking animal with a tranquilizer or real gun. Using a tranquilizer gun simply does not work. Most chemicals take minutes, and that is not quick enough. Once shot, the animal might panic and start slashing about if he is wounded. He will forget all of his training and become confused and even more dangerous. A real bullet is no better, because if a shot misses, it could injure or kill someone." - Dirk Arthur, Star of New Art of Magic at the Union Plaza who uses eight tigers
His act uses four Plexiglas illusions. The Plexiglas is bulletproof, and the animals cannot escape from the Plexiglas enclosures. In addition, Arthur said he uses chains that are secured to the stage and walks the animals on and off stage himself on leashes. If an animal gets antsy, he walks it in circles until it calms down. He also keeps his animals about 15 feet away from the audience, "giving me a comfortable margin of safety while allowing the audience to enjoy the beauty of the animal." Even with those measures in place, Arthur has contingency plans. One is to use a fire extinguisher to get an animal who has attacked to let go. That was the procedure used to get Montecore off Horn backstage.
County Animal Control Officer Joe Boteilho said a fire extinguisher is the preferred method to disengage an animal from an attack. "The cold, the blast, it creates noise, it disconnects their thinking," Boteilho said. "Usually it will stop an attack. I think it's the best thing to do." The county does not get involved in such safety regulations, Boteilho said, allowing federal regulators to decide what is and is not safe. "I think that the USDA has the experience in this," he said.
The county Animal Control department has drafted a proposed ordinance to regulate exotic animals, but its intent is to oversee residents who keep lions, tigers, bears and other dangerous animals as pets, not people who are licensed through the USDA, Boteilho said.
County Manager Thom Reilly said he wasn't sure whether the county had the authority to pass laws stricter than the federal rules, but he thought Horn's injury may bring more scrutiny of the way animals are used in entertainment.
"Tragedies, unfortunately, prevent others in the future. It requires all agencies to review policies and practices," Reilly said. "I think you'll see a review at all levels," he said, "not only the issue of the public, but also the issue of protection of employees."
Rogers said there is nothing stopping the county, if it decides stricter rules are needed. "There's no conflict," he said. "Whoever's regulations are strongest are endorsed."
Meanwhile, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called on Siegfried and Roy to close the show and build a sanctuary for the cats. In a letter to the entertainers, the PETA Vice President Dan Mathews wrote, "Perhaps Friday's frightening incident will make you realize that a brightly lit stage with pounding music and a screaming audience is not the natural habitat for tigers, lions or any other exotic animals."
A group calling itself SR Against PETA responded, calling the letter, which it says was sent to Horn's room at University Medical Center, irresponsible. "It is our firm belief that PETA has shown an immense amount of disrespect by refusing to wait until Roy has sufficiently recovered to send such a letter," the group said in a letter to the media. The group said a movement has begun within the Siegfried and Roy fan base to demand a public apology from PETA.
It was also reported that Charles Flanner wished Roy a quick recovery. Flanner was the maintenance worker who was attacked by white tiger Magic in 1985 while the duo was playing at the Frontier (see the Frontier's page for details). Flanner declined to discuss the attack but said he doesn't dwell on how it changed his life.
"I can't be mad at the guy (Horn)." Hell, I can't be mad at the cat, either. It happened. He was playing, that's all. Hell, I feel lucky to be alive this long. At this age, most of my friends, they're dead. I'm having a great day just because I'm alive." - Charles Flanner, October, 2003
October 08, 2003, it was reported that droves of people visited Roy Horn's makeshift memorial in front of The Mirage hotel-casino every day. Thousands have visited the "Siegfried & Roy" Web site, causing it to crash. Some of the biggest names in the world, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, former President Bill Clinton and Muhammad Ali, have sent get well messages. Doctors hope Horn might be able to one day thank them.
"The outpouring of love and prayer both domestically as well as globally ... is very touching to us. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day that passes increases his chance of survival. He has the will of a thousand men." He understands the circumstances. He is totally aware that he is fighting for his life - Bernie Yuman
MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said Wednesday that Fischbacher's comment to Bild that the show would continue had been misinterpreted. "The show is closed," Feldman said. "He did not intend to suggest that the show would go on."
On October 10, 2003, hotel officials met with about 200 employees to discuss layoffs prompted by the closure of the show. Employees were given details about severance packages and other job opportunities within the hotel and the hotel's parent company.
"For an awful lot of these folks, they've been either with Siegfried and Roy before The Mirage or they've certainly been with us since the very, very beginning." - Alan Feldman
It was also reported that Horn remained in critical condition, recovering from massive blood loss, two surgeries and a stroke he suffered after the attack.
These pictures were donated by Sam Melchionne:
"Upon hearing the 1st recount on the news six days ago about the Seigfried & Roy tiger 'attack' I couldn't believe it. Then when a stage hand's comment on the 1st TV interview was that "Roy fell down", I said to my friend that the tiger must have thought Roy was in trouble and carried him away to safety like one of his cubs. And, that if the tiger 'attacked', the incident wouldn't have stopped at that point. Sure enough, yesterday, on Larry King Live those were exactly Seigfried's perceptions.They were so close to their animals from birth that rolling around, sleeping with them, etc. did have the affect of very passive family acceptance by their animals as tho they were tigers too. Regardless of instinct they knew no different raised by S&R.;
Years back we'd play golf on one of LV's three golf courses. The 15th fairway, unfenced then, paralleled the street directly across from their home. One day the tigers got loose as our carts were rolling past. They loped around on the fairway all over the place like little kids getting away with something (all carts went in all directions). Could you imagine the look on our faces!! When S&R; ran out all they had to do was utter a few commands and one at a time like falling dominos each sulked their hulks down on their elbows obviously in guilt, all under control. (Not a bad saber-tooth in their mouth.)
At The Mirage poker room tables as we played throughout the week backstage personnel close to show would relate humorous stories told them by S&R; about the tigers' antics at home. In those days they were few and were taken home every nite after the shows. We got to know them (vicariously, Thank God) and you couldn't help growing an affection for those beautiful creatures. Everyone felt close to those animals and we even got to know their names. There they were; animals and men like kids and parents.
And, the media keeps using..... 'attacked'......... such sensational story-hype!
Exposure to all of this led to the perception of protectiveness on the part of the tiger. How can anyone removed from this understanding know any different? Now, local politicians and animal agency bureaucrats are rushing out, profoundly getting on the bandwagon, to voice new animal legislation. Typical." - Sam Melchionne, October, 2003
On October 14, 2003 it was reported that Montecore was released from quarantine after waiting the customary 10 days to ensure he didn't have rabies. Alan Feldman stated that the animal will continue to live at the Secret Garden.
On October 17, 2003, it was announced that doctors had surgically removed a portion of Roy's skull.
Dr. Lonnie Hammargren, prominent Las Vegas neurosurgeon and longtime acquaintance of Roy, said about 1/4 of the right side Roy's skull was removed to relieve cranial pressure in the crucial hours after the Oct. 3 attack. He said Horn suffered a "pretty big stroke" but that his paralysis might only be temporary.
Feldman stated that Hammargren was not a member of Horn's medical team. Feldman added Hammargren had no authority to speak about Horn's condition and didn't have official access to the performer's medical records.
"All of us at the hotel are deeply saddened and shocked that Dr. Hammargren would have speculated on Roy's care publicly. It's a violation of Roy's privacy, a violation of UMC policy, and it is clearly a violation of federal law, which was designed specifically to prevent this kind of irresponsible action." - Alan Feldman
Hammargren, a former Nevada lieutenant governor, stated that he was commenting about Roy's treatment to correct misinformation about the procedure. He didn't operate on Roy, but said he talked with Horn's surgeon, Dr. Derek Duke, about his treatment. Hammargren denied published reports that Roy underwent a radical procedure called a hemicraniectomy, involving surgical removal of half the skull. He said Horn's surgeons instead performed a decompressive craniectomy, a more common procedure involving removal of about one-quarter of the skull. Hammargren said surgeons can remove a portion of the skull to give the brain room to expand following surgery, trauma, stroke or other medical problems. The removed portion of the skull can then be surgically placed in the abdomen or frozen until it can be replaced, Hammargren said. He said he was told Roy's skull had been implanted in a pouch in his abdomen. Hammargren confirmed that Horn suffered a stroke and was paralyzed on the left side after the tiger attacked his neck.
Hammargren also took issue with some descriptions of the operation as reported New York Daily News. The newspaper, relying on information initially supplied by an unidentified source to the Star tabloid, reported that Roy had an operation known as a hemicraniectomy on Oct. 4, a day after he was mauled. The Daily News also characterized the operation as "radical." When he read excerpts of the story, Hammargren said he disagreed that Roy had a hemicraniectomy or that it was a radical procedure. Hammargren said the newspaper was correct in reporting that a hemicraniectomy is a procedure whereby a C-shaped section of skull is cut away to relieve swelling of the brain. But he said roughly half of the skull is cut away in that procedure.
"It's not a common procedure. In 30 years I have done 10 to 20. Many of these are done in desperate circumstances when there are no other alternatives." - Dr. Hammargren
Instead, Hammargren said Horn had what he described as a "decompressive craniectomy" that involved removal of a portion of the skull but only about the size of a human hand. In Horn's case the intent of the operation was to relieve pressure on the brain "from the stroke he had as a result of massive injuries," Hammargren said. He said the Daily News correctly reported that the portion of the skull that was removed was placed in Horn's abdomen to keep the bone marrow alive for future reattachment. But Hammargren said the procedure performed on Horn was not radical -- as the Daily News reported -- "because radical sounds like it was experimental, and this was not experimental." "The surgery he had was not radical," Hammargren said. "It was unequivocally necessary."
"Dr. Duke did exactly the operation he should have. Otherwise, Roy would be dead. He had a pretty big stroke. We just don't know yet. Fortunately, the stroke didn't hit on the side where he talks, thinks and remembers. He can still comprehend things and do things. I feel he will survive and he owes it all to the doctors treating him." Dr. Hammargren
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons cited a Massachusetts hospital study that found that hemicraniectomy operations reduced deaths and disabilities associated with major strokes. The association reported that once the skull portion is removed, the scalp and the hard inner membrane beneath the scalp are sewn together. The association said it is typical to store the removed portion of the skull in the patient's abdomen until the brain swelling ends. Hammargren said that a high percentage of patients still die after having such operations. But he recalled a successful skull operation he performed in Las Vegas about 10 years ago on a young woman who suffered massive head injuries after she was beaten during a robbery at a video rental store where she worked. The woman, Lorraine Mosca, was left with a "heavy limp" but has survived, he said. "She went on to earn an engineering degree and is employed in Las Vegas today in engineering," Hammargren said.
In October of 2003, the Siegfried/Roy controversy was still going strong. Group "A" stated that the interviews with Steve Wynn and Siegfried were wrong as they said it was clearly a misunderstanding in that Roy stumbled, Montecore grabbed his arm in an instinctive movement and that Roy wasn't hitting him in the head, he was trying to grab his head and still hold on to the microphone. When he continued to fall, the tiger grabbed him by the neck, just like any cat does to another when danger is apparent, and thinking the danger came from the audience dragged him off stage. How did Wynn know as he was out of state when it occurred and Siegfried was in his dressing room. Group "B" stated that they never said they saw the show, they had watched the videotape. Group "A" said it was clearly an attack as the audience stated. Group "B" stated if it was an attack why did the audience say it was so natural with no viciousness connected, that most of the audience thought it was part of the show?
(I didn't see the interview with Siegfried but I did see the one with Steve Wynn. The newscaster stated before the interview that it was taken shortly after Wynn saw the videotape of the show in question. - Deanna)
On October 20, 2003, Sam Melchionne and I drove by the memorial by the Mirage Siegfried & Roy statue.
On October 29, 2003, Horn was been transferred to UCLA Medical Center for his injuries. He had been in an intensive care unit at University Medical Center in Las Vegas until he was transferred. Horn's condition was serious, but his vital signs were stable, UCLA Medical Center officials said in a statement. Horn was admitted for further evaluation, medical treatment and to continue his recovery, UCLA officials said. The manager for the popular Las Vegas entertainers said no more information would be made available.
"Roy is now making the transition from survival to recovery. While we are all aware that the road ahead is long, all of us in the Siegfried & Roy family are encouraged by Roy's remarkable demonstration of will, courage and faith." - Siegfried, October 2003
In 2003, Siegfried & Roy Theatre will be showcasing Siegfried & Roy (dark Wednesdays & Thursdays) (closed October 3, 2003 due to injury). Danny Gans Theater will be showcasing Darnny Gans (dark Mondays and Fridays); Kevin James (5/24-25).
Baccarat Bar will be showcasing live entertainment.
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