Illusionists mark 4,000th performance at The Mirage

Illusionists Siegfried and Roy, warned 28 years ago that a magic act would never work in Las Vegas, were to mark their 4,000th performance at The Mirage hotel-casino Monday night.

The two have performed before some 6 million people at The Mirage since they opened at the Las Vegas Strip resort in February 1990, according to spokesman Frank Lieberman. Their show has grossed some $500 million at The Mirage, he said.

The illusionists, natives of Germany who met while both were working on a cruise ship, started performing in Las Vegas in 1971. When trying to land a job here, they were warned by a hotel executive that magic acts would never succeed in Las Vegas.

To date, they have performed more than 14,000 shows in Las Vegas, drawing some 22 million people, Lieberman said.

The two have also gained international recognition for their work in raising rare white lions and tigers, who were nearing extinction. More than 50 of the rare animals are being raised at their $10 million compound in Las Vegas, as well as the Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy at The Mirage.

They also have two dozen rare white lions and tigers on loan to zoos in Cincinnati, Ohio, Stuenbruck, Germany and Johannesburg, South Africa to help propagate the species.

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