Las Vegas Weekly

February 25, 2010 · 3:48 PM

Exclusive: It’s over! Magician Dirk Arthur ends six-year Tropicana run

By Robin Leach

Dennis Hopper, Dirk Arthur and baby leopard Jan.

Photo: PR Plus

Illusionist Dirk Arthur this afternoon confirmed rumors that Vegas DeLuxe had reported two weeks ago that after a successful six-year run on the Strip, he is bringing his current engagement at the Tropicana to a close. Dirk and his Xtreme Magic show will celebrate the final show on March 12.

He told us this afternoon: “I couldn’t have imagined six years later we would be leaving the Tropicana. It has been a tremendous run and a very lucrative engagement for both the show and the property. I am grateful for the Tropicana’s partnership over the years and during that time have added 10 illusions to the magic show and seven exotic large cats.

“I look forward to the next stage my cats and I will perform on and promise to keep everyone posted on the development of Saber, my 3-month-old white tiger cub who has recently been introduced to the Las Vegas community, as well as where they can see us next.”

Tomorrow, Dirk will introduce Saber as part of Lunar New Year celebrations for the Year of the Tiger to the students of Andre Agassi’s College Preparatory Academy. White tigers have been extinct in the wild since the early 1960s. Today, they are found only in captivity, of which it is estimated there are 500 to 600.

Dirk has the largest and most rare collection of performing exotic cats in the world, and Saber makes number five for white tigers at his home. When the children get the rare opportunity to touch his tail, Saber will weigh about 12 to 15 pounds.

As part of the continuing makeover of the Tropicana, the property also closed its long-running Folies Bergere last year after 49 years. Only Wayne Newton’s Once Before I Go remains there for the moment. The legendary entertainer has been involved in a daylong drama at his Shenandoah estate today as reported by our colleagues at the Las Vegas Sun.

Vegas DeLuxe extends our best wishes to Dirk as he takes on new challenges.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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