Las Vegas Weekly

October 22, 2008 · 12:14 PM

Siegfried & Roy support Metro K-9 units as they ready for Santa Run, Moment of Magic return

By Robin Leach

Photo: Isaac Brekkan

Metro’s finest -- and their four-legged K-9 friends -- were cheered on by the world’s best illusionists at the 18th annual K-9 Trials. Siegfried & Roy had just returned from a European trip to support our competing Metro Police officers at the Orleans Arena. The Vegas officers were up against K-9 units from Utah, Arizona and California.

Siegfried told me: “We recognize the vital role of the police dogs in fighting crime -- and we give them tremendous support.” More than 40 officers and their Belgian and German dogs went through a series of maneuvers -– even under gunfire -– to display their crucial talents. Las Vegas has one of the oldest continuously operating K-9 units in the United State since it was founded in 1959. Today it has 21 officers and 21 patrol dogs in addition to nine narcotic detector dogs and six explosive detector dogs

Roy, although still suffering from jet lag and from climbing stairs in the old London Palladium theater in England while on the trip, bravely discarded his walking stick so he could walk slowly into the center of the arena for the awards ceremony. He also rolled the drum for the five winning raffle tickets.

Said Roy: “I’ve been pushing myself hard but I want to be in the best condition possible to take part in the 5k Santa run on December 6 for Opportunity Village. I plan to walk the entire course without the cane.”

Siegfried & Roy were in London for a charity fundraising tribute, and Siegfried recalled: “It was only when I got there that I realized that some 40 or 45 years ago when we were young that we were there the first time -- and hadn’t been back since. We’d flown over from Germany, were taken in a police car while other officers ensured our animals feet didn’t touch any English soil because of the strict quarantine laws then.

We literally went back and forth between the Palladium and the airport so no wonder we didn’t remember it until we saw it again a few days ago.”

Siegfried also experienced a unique coincidence while in Europe last week.

He was surprised find a crowd of fans when he checked into a Munich hotel. “They can’t possibly be here for me because nobody knew we were coming,” he says he told the hotel doorman. He replied: No they’re waiting to greet some of the stars of High School Musical and their choreographer and director, Kenny Ortega, who are arriving any minute.” Siegfried decided to wait and was the first to greet a very surprised Ortega when he arrived in his limousine. Kenny was the choreographer for Siegfried & Roy’s magic spectacular during its amazing 14-year run at The Mirage!

After a visit to Hollywood to participate in a Walk of Stars ceremony re-honoring Harry Houdini, Siegfried assured me that he and Roy will begin to block out their illusions as they prepare their Moment of Magic for their one and only return performance at our Keep Memory Alive gala on February 28 at the Bellagio. “We’ve been in our warehouse already, pulling out and going through all our illusions and scenery. We’re getting an idea now as to what we want to do -- but it will remain a heavily guarded secret right up until the very moment the curtains rise again.”

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