When Siegfried & Roy arrived in Las Vegas more than 30 years ago, a leading hotel executive said to them, "Boys, I have to tell you, magic doesn't work in this town."

Siegfried & Roy not only proved him wrong, but they succeeded even beyond their own wildest dreams. As International Magicians Society Chairman Tony Hassini stated, upon presenting the illusionists with the prestigious "Magicians of the Century" award at the Millennium Merlin Award ceremony, "Siegfried & Roy's contribution to magic is indefinable. To the public, they are THE magicians, but they are also very much loved and respected by their peers. They have placed magic on a plateau and have become larger than life. I doubt if their contributions will ever be matched."

Hassini also said that the Merlin represents "the magic" accomplished by Siegfried & Roy offstage, namely their efforts to preserve the magnificent Royal White Tigers and Magical White Lions. Such an achievement, Hassini noted, was particularly amazing since it was accomplished in Las Vegas, a testament to the dedication and perseverance of these two individuals. But Siegfried & Roy can think of no better place to make their magic.

"Our passion and love affair with Las Vegas began the first day we arrived over 30 years ago," Siegfried recalls. "The residents and visitors of what immediately became our 'hometown' have allowed us to live our dreams and our fantasies. We have fulfilled our destiny of carrying on the traditions of magicians and magic."

In their three-plus decades in Las Vegas, Siegfried & Roy have performed for more than 25 million people. Through the years, they have seen many changes in the city's entertainment scene, some of which they were personally responsible for. The illusionists opened the door to family entertainment, setting a standard in stage extravaganzas that cannot be duplicated anywhere in the world.

"We're proud to have been a part of this metamorphosis," Siegfried states, "from the days when we shared billing in the 'Folies Bergere' and 'Lido de Paris' productions, until the time we moved into our own show, 'Beyond Belief,' at the Frontier."

"We're also proud that we've been credited for raising the bar of Las Vegas entertainment," Roy adds, "taking our industry to a new level by premiering spectacular mega-productions to match the city's new mega-resorts."

It's been noted that no other Las Vegas performers have been able to consistently match Siegfried & Roy's attendance record. Indeed, anyone who thinks they can do what Siegfried & Roy have achieved will simply discover that it's impossible.