The Magic of Siegfried & Roy

Both natives of rural Germany and raised during World War II, Siegfried Fischbacher and Uwe Ludwig “Roy” Horn each discovered their respective passions at young ages before their fated meeting aboard the cruise liner, the TS Bremen. While a young Siegfried studied magic from a book he’d purchased with money found on the street, Roy worked with exotic animals at the local zoo. Each brought these talents to their work aboard the Bremen as teenagers in the late 1950s, entertaining guests with a rudimentary version of their famous act that would eventually take them across the globe.

Before joining forces, Siegfried was performing modest illusions onboard the Bremen under the name of Delmare the Magician while Roy was preoccupied with smuggling aboard a cheetah, Chico, he had befriended while working at the zoo. Sources may differ as to their exact meeting date, but it is abundantly clear that both Siegfried & Roy presented an opportunity to one another. For Siegfried, Roy’s uncanny chemistry with animals was the chance to elevate his magic to the next level. For Roy, Siegfried’s deft illusions and showmanship were the ideal chance to share his love of wild animals with audiences the world over. Once the duo formalized their partnership and took their show across Europe, they were acclaimed by audiences, critics, and peers alike. The duo even performed for Princess Grace of Monaco in 1966 at her prestigious Gala des Rois. It wasn’t long before Siegfried & Roy caught the attention of producers and entertainers in the United States, where they were presented with the opportunity to perform in Las Vegas starting in 1967.