In the beginning, there were two boys from Germany.

Before they even met, they both had their childhood dreams. Little did they know that someday they would go to a land called Las Vegas, establishing a new pinnacle of magical stage spectacle.

"Within all of is an elusive melody which, when heard and followed, leads to the fulfillment of our fondest dreams," Siegfried & Roy explain simply. Indeed, growing up in the small town of Rosenheim, Germany, Siegfried Fischbacher experienced a powerful feeling of destiny at a very early age. When he was nine years old, feeling drawn to the world of magic, he discovered a book about magic at the village bookstore. But his parents couldn't afford to buy it for him, so the youngster would often walk by the bookstore, just gazing at the book through the window.

One day, on his way home, Siegfried found a five-mark bill floating in the gutter. Elated, he picked up the bill, raced back to the store and purchased the book. Taking it home and into the privacy of his bedroom, the child spent hours practicing his magic. Once he had perfected his first trick, he performed it for his Father, putting a coin in a glass, covering the glass with a handkerchief and making the coin disappear. His father's reaction buoyed his spirits - he had impressed the audience he wanted to impress the most.

Meanwhile, growing up in Nordenham, Germany, a young boy name Roy Horn was spending a lot of time with his beloved companion, a half-dog, half-wolf named Hexe. One day, while the two were out on an afternoon walk, they stopped to rest under a willow tree. Above them a raven perched on a limb. Taking a brief nap, Roy was awakened by the raven's caw. He reached out to touch the bird, but it flew away. Fascinated, he decided to follow it. But as he strayed into a patch of reeds, Roy suddenly found himself sinking in quicksand. Sensing danger, Hexe ran off. Moments later, the boy heard a human voice -- Hexe had fetched a farmer, saving young Roy from certain death. That was Roy's first real lesson in the bond of trust that could exist between humans and animals.

Seeking escape from the ravages of war, Roy found his solace at the Bremen Zoo. There he would spend time with two-year-old Chico, the cheetah that inspired his love for exotic cats. Communicating with Chico with catlike sounds through the iron bars, Roy spent months earning the animal's trust. Finally, the handlers gave him permission to enter Chico's den and to take care of him and feed him. Eventually, Chico allowed Roy to take him for walks.

Meanwhile, Siegfried discovered a special shop called "The King of Magic" in Munich, 30 miles up the road from Rosenheim. Through the shop's window he eyed an ornate magic box. The proprietor, an old Hungarian gypsy, told Siegfried that the box was for professional magicians only. With no money, the box was out of Siegfried's grasp. Siegfried opened it anyway.

This simple act could serve as a metaphor for Siegfried & Roy's lives.