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October 2006
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Celeb Halloween Pics: Dennis Rodman, Tera Patrick, Criss Angel, Amazing Jonathan, Gene Simmons, More
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Roy Horn's Road Back; Monty Python in Vegas?; Prince Parties at PURE
10/23/06
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Basketball Bonanza: the Lakers, the Kings, the Maloofs and a $6K Burger -- LUXE LIFE SPECIAL EDITION
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Tuesday, October 24, 2006
In This Issue:The
Miracle of Roy Horn's Road Back -- A Luxe Life
Special Story.
Monty Python may look for the Holy Grail
in Sin City.
His Royal Badness, Prince, is back on the
Vegas party scene.
Siegfried & Roy during the recent presentation of their star on the Vegas Walk of Fame.
Tonight, Siegfried & Roy will walk the red-carpet for their friend Gordie Brown's premiere in his new theater at The Venetian. They all share my friend Bernie Yuman as their manager. That Roy is able to walk and talk is a modern-day medical miracle or, as some would call it, "the ultimate magic act." Now, for the first time, the masters of illusion talk openly and candidly in a heart-moving interview for the M-Lifestyle magazine, published by MGM for its family of guests. Executives there gave special permission for Luxe Life to re-publish "The Miracle of Roy Horn's Road Back" by Robert Macy:
It's an excruciating regimen more appropriate for an athlete: three hours of rehab, two hours at a gym, laps in a swimming pool, but for Roy Horn it's the price he pays on his road to recovery.
It has been nearly three years since Horn's tragic accident during a performance of the record-breaking show "Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage."
Doctors said he would never survive.
He did.
Doctors said he would never walk again.
He is.
The medical professionals underestimated the will of Roy Horn. Those who knew him said he had the heart of a tiger, the will of a thousand men. Today he is proving them right. Horn talked about the journey recently in a posh Las Vegas home where he continues his rehabilitation.
"The unbelievable love of people has made me strong," Horn said. "It's a wonderful feeling to be needed and loved. It humbles me to see the love and affection."
He admits the therapy is grueling as he works to regain full use of his left arm and leg. "They told me I would never walk again, but I knew better," Horn said. "The beginning of therapy was really tough ... a lot of pain ... two steps forward and one step back. I had to keep telling myself 'Don't give in. God won't let you down.' My faith is more established now than ever before. It has helped me to overcome this."
There is constant pain, and medicine to help manage it. But Horn keeps pushing. "All I want to do is keep going," Horn said. "I know when I'm down, I've got to get up."
Horn, who now walks increasingly better on his own, praises the work of his therapists. "They won't take no for an answer. They tell me I'm amazingly strong, stronger than anybody they know." He also credits the nurses and doctors who have helped him, and longtime stage partners Siegfried Fischbacher and Lynette Chappell.
He talks about the night of Oct. 3, 2003, when Montecore, a 400-pound tiger, instinctually dragged him off stage. Rushed to University Medical Center, doctors began what they thought would be a futile effort to save his life.
"I died four times," Horn recalled. "My heart stopped four times. A doctor would try to pull a sheet over my head and I would push it back. He said 'He won't make it,' and I started to meditate. I knew everything would be okay. God said it wasn't my time to go."
There is no bitterness toward Montecore. "He basically saved me. I had a stroke; he knew something was wrong and he took me to my exit," Horn says.
Horn hasn't lost touch with animals, a vital part of his life since childhood. He visits his animals several times a week, with trips to the Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, a sprawling enclave at The Strip resort that is home to some of the illusionists' famed white lions and white tigers.
"My cats, they are all waiting for me," Horn says with a smile. "I feed them, pet them, baby them. They have always been a part of my life. They are true magic for me."
He vows he will return to show business in some form, some day. "The animals are waiting, too, to do something again."
Roy with his loving fans during his birthday celebration.
The public's affection for Siegfried and Roy has not waned in the three years away from the footlights. They still draw standing ovations when they appear at public events, his trips to the Secret Garden always draw fans, and Roy relishes the crowd interaction. He takes in movies and dines with friends, goes shopping at the Fashion Show Mall.
He likes to go horseback riding in the desert "because it's therapeutic for me." And he loves his trips to Little Bavaria, a wooded sanctuary on the outskirts of Las Vegas, where he goes to feed his ducks and swans, keeping a wary eye on a 28-year-old donkey who, he says, "will kick you in the butt" if given the opportunity.
How did he survive when doctors had no hope? Horn smiles. "The guy upstairs wasn't ready. They know I'm trouble. They've heard about me. They were not ready for that yet." Therapists continue grueling sessions to strengthen Horn's left arm and left leg, savaged by the stroke. And speech therapists continue to work with him.
His goal: "To be independent. To get back my freedom," Horn said. "When something like this happens, you lose all your freedom; you lose your dignity. That's tough for me."
And he has a message for those who offered up a multitude of prayers. "I'm very grateful for their support," he said. "My goal is to pay them back. My goal is full recovery. I promise, I will be dancing again."
In the three years since his brush with death, Roy Horn has proven that if you put your mind to it, anything is possible. "Fate and the man upstairs brought me through this," he said. "My father always told me to be strong, that there was nothing I couldn't overcome. You just have to be positive; you just have to believe."
Siegfried & Roy celebrate with Tippi and Leo & Bev Brennan from Cox Communications.
Luxe Life and everybody at AOL wishesRoy the very best for continued progress. (Click here for our recent coverage of Roy's birthday party and their new Star installed near their Mirage statue on the Strip.) Last weekend, at one of their increasing community goodwill appearances, Siegfried & Roy supported the K-9 fundraiser for the Las Vegas Police Canine Patrols and thenthey presented an animal conservation award to actress Tippi Hedren at the 145th annual Dinosaur Ball to benefit the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. We know "the masters of the incredible" will be around as Vegas' most world-known residents will be around for a long time to come.
BRIT SHOWS
Monty Python funnyman Eric Idle is currently working on a Vegas production.
Four members of the British cult comedy crew Monty Python reunited at the London premiere of "Spamalot," a musical version of the 1974 classic comedy film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Author and lyricist Eric Idle, who is working on the Vegas run at Wynn scheduled for next year, hopes the West End version match "Spamalot's" record-breaking run on Broadway, where it took more than $1-million a week winning three Tony awards. It took him 3-years to convert the hit movie into a musical. Insiders are hoping that Tim Curry, who recreated his Broadway role as King Arthur, gathering knights to join him on his quest for the Holy Grail, will headline the Vegas show too.
Linda Evans and Joan Collins holding their likenesses on the set of 'Dynasty.'
Meantime, my 'Dynasty' pals Joan Collins and Linda Evans did blockbuster box-office biz when their new James Kirkwood comedy 'Legends' opened in Toronto. The show sold $3-million in tickets in just 5-weeks. My friend, Judy Bryer from Summerlin, who was Joan's personal assistant during the Dynasty years and used to stand in for her during filming, flew there for opening night and reported back to Luxe Life: "The show was great. The girls were great. Everybody wanted to see the Dynasty stars reunited. Maybe they were all hoping for a repeat of the famous, mud-wrestling scene. However, not in this production." Joan's long-time romance and 5-year marriage with producer Percy Gibson continues happily onwards. The cast moved onto Philadelphia today and the nearest the touring play will get to Vegas is Phoenix, San Diego and Los Angeles in January, before its Broadway run. Joan promises to come visit us again in Vegas on her week's break.
Joan Collins and Judy Bryer, Joan's personal assistant during the 'Dynasty' years.
STRIP SCRIBBLES
The one-named pop-icon Prince is back on the late-night Vegas party scene. He turned up with his gal-pal at PURE in Caesars and royally commanded the Red Room just for the two of them as he sipped on port. Next night, he and his girlfriend sipped only water as they stayed at Tangerine until 4:30AM, watching the bumpin' grindin' dance floor action but not once moving to cut up the rug! Also at PURE, the lovely ladies of 'La Femme,' PRIDE fighter Vandalay Silva, 'Mindfreak' illusionist Criss Angel, and the sexy Lakers cheerleaders "practicing" their routines on the dance floor to the delight of partygoers. ... It took longer than expected, but here's the magical-moment photo of singer soul-mates and love-couple Ashanti and Nelly at her TAO birthday party, as they were about to blow-out the candles. (Click here for the Luxe Life coverage of the party.)
Ashanti and main squeeze Nelly during her surprise birthday party at TAO.
TONIGHT'S TIP
If you've ever wanted to mingle with models, tonight's the night when the stunning strutters from RED ModelAgency party at ghostbar in the Palms. Just as stunning platinum photographs of the best and most memorable events in 20th Century sports go on display in the Neil Leifer gallery at Caesars Palace's new spectacular Augustus Tower.
TOMORROW'S TEASE
Sizzling sexy sassy Sirens celebrate 3 successful years of fighting off the marauding macho men at the Treasure Island pirate show, and gorgeous lady-lead Stacy Jane spills all the secrets. Plus, Vince Neil's brand new tattoo parlor and a brand new non-gaming hotel gets ready to open just one block from Strip Central.
CONTACT US
You can
give us your insights on life, love and the pursuit of happiness with
an email
to robinsvegas@aol.com To
ensure you don't miss one drumbeat of the new edition,
click
here
or at the 'Alert Me' up top if you'd like to know the
split-second we
post the brand new Luxe Life.
Go to AOL Vegas for much more on hotels, casinos, restaurants, nightlife, and everything Las Vegas! Check our travel section for great deals on hotels, airfare and much more! And when visiting Vegas, besure to see Las Vegas Magazine in your hotel suite featuring a print edition of AOL Vegas Luxe Life, and an incredible directory of attractions, shows and restaurants.
robinsvegas at 7:38:00 AM PDT Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
Roy Horn's Road Back; Monty Python in Vegas?; Prince Parties at PURE
In This Issue:
Siegfried & Roy during the recent presentation of their star on the Vegas Walk of Fame.
Tonight, Siegfried & Roy will walk the red-carpet for their friend Gordie Brown's premiere in his new theater at The Venetian. They all share my friend Bernie Yuman as their manager. That Roy is able to walk and talk is a modern-day medical miracle or, as some would call it, "the ultimate magic act." Now, for the first time, the masters of illusion talk openly and candidly in a heart-moving interview for the M-Lifestyle magazine, published by MGM for its family of guests. Executives there gave special permission for Luxe Life to re-publish "The Miracle of Roy Horn's Road Back" by Robert Macy:
It's an excruciating regimen more appropriate for an athlete: three hours of rehab, two hours at a gym, laps in a swimming pool, but for Roy Horn it's the price he pays on his road to recovery.
It has been nearly three years since Horn's tragic accident during a performance of the record-breaking show "Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage."
Doctors said he would never survive.
He did.
Doctors said he would never walk again.
He is.
The medical professionals underestimated the will of Roy Horn. Those who knew him said he had the heart of a tiger, the will of a thousand men. Today he is proving them right. Horn talked about the journey recently in a posh Las Vegas home where he continues his rehabilitation.
"The unbelievable love of people has made me strong," Horn said. "It's a wonderful feeling to be needed and loved. It humbles me to see the love and affection."
He admits the therapy is grueling as he works to regain full use of his left arm and leg. "They told me I would never walk again, but I knew better," Horn said. "The beginning of therapy was really tough ... a lot of pain ... two steps forward and one step back. I had to keep telling myself 'Don't give in. God won't let you down.' My faith is more established now than ever before. It has helped me to overcome this."
There is constant pain, and medicine to help manage it. But Horn keeps pushing. "All I want to do is keep going," Horn said. "I know when I'm down, I've got to get up."
Horn, who now walks increasingly better on his own, praises the work of his therapists. "They won't take no for an answer. They tell me I'm amazingly strong, stronger than anybody they know." He also credits the nurses and doctors who have helped him, and longtime stage partners Siegfried Fischbacher and Lynette Chappell.
He talks about the night of Oct. 3, 2003, when Montecore, a 400-pound tiger, instinctually dragged him off stage. Rushed to University Medical Center, doctors began what they thought would be a futile effort to save his life.
"I died four times," Horn recalled. "My heart stopped four times. A doctor would try to pull a sheet over my head and I would push it back. He said 'He won't make it,' and I started to meditate. I knew everything would be okay. God said it wasn't my time to go."
There is no bitterness toward Montecore. "He basically saved me. I had a stroke; he knew something was wrong and he took me to my exit," Horn says.
Horn hasn't lost touch with animals, a vital part of his life since childhood. He visits his animals several times a week, with trips to the Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, a sprawling enclave at The Strip resort that is home to some of the illusionists' famed white lions and white tigers.
"My cats, they are all waiting for me," Horn says with a smile. "I feed them, pet them, baby them. They have always been a part of my life. They are true magic for me."
He vows he will return to show business in some form, some day. "The animals are waiting, too, to do something again."
Roy with his loving fans during his birthday celebration.
The public's affection for Siegfried and Roy has not waned in the three years away from the footlights. They still draw standing ovations when they appear at public events, his trips to the Secret Garden always draw fans, and Roy relishes the crowd interaction. He takes in movies and dines with friends, goes shopping at the Fashion Show Mall.
He likes to go horseback riding in the desert "because it's therapeutic for me." And he loves his trips to Little Bavaria, a wooded sanctuary on the outskirts of Las Vegas, where he goes to feed his ducks and swans, keeping a wary eye on a 28-year-old donkey who, he says, "will kick you in the butt" if given the opportunity.
How did he survive when doctors had no hope? Horn smiles. "The guy upstairs wasn't ready. They know I'm trouble. They've heard about me. They were not ready for that yet." Therapists continue grueling sessions to strengthen Horn's left arm and left leg, savaged by the stroke. And speech therapists continue to work with him.
His goal: "To be independent. To get back my freedom," Horn said. "When something like this happens, you lose all your freedom; you lose your dignity. That's tough for me."
And he has a message for those who offered up a multitude of prayers. "I'm very grateful for their support," he said. "My goal is to pay them back. My goal is full recovery. I promise, I will be dancing again."
In the three years since his brush with death, Roy Horn has proven that if you put your mind to it, anything is possible. "Fate and the man upstairs brought me through this," he said. "My father always told me to be strong, that there was nothing I couldn't overcome. You just have to be positive; you just have to believe."
Siegfried & Roy celebrate with Tippi and Leo & Bev Brennan from Cox Communications.
Luxe Life and everybody at AOL wishesRoy the very best for continued progress. (Click here for our recent coverage of Roy's birthday party and their new Star installed near their Mirage statue on the Strip.) Last weekend, at one of their increasing community goodwill appearances, Siegfried & Roy supported the K-9 fundraiser for the Las Vegas Police Canine Patrols and thenthey presented an animal conservation award to actress Tippi Hedren at the 145th annual Dinosaur Ball to benefit the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. We know "the masters of the incredible" will be around as Vegas' most world-known residents will be around for a long time to come.
BRIT SHOWS
Monty Python funnyman Eric Idle is currently working on a Vegas production.
Four members of the British cult comedy crew Monty Python reunited at the London premiere of "Spamalot," a musical version of the 1974 classic comedy film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Author and lyricist Eric Idle, who is working on the Vegas run at Wynn scheduled for next year, hopes the West End version match "Spamalot's" record-breaking run on Broadway, where it took more than $1-million a week winning three Tony awards. It took him 3-years to convert the hit movie into a musical. Insiders are hoping that Tim Curry, who recreated his Broadway role as King Arthur, gathering knights to join him on his quest for the Holy Grail, will headline the Vegas show too.
Linda Evans and Joan Collins holding their likenesses on the set of 'Dynasty.'
Meantime, my 'Dynasty' pals Joan Collins and Linda Evans did blockbuster box-office biz when their new James Kirkwood comedy 'Legends' opened in Toronto. The show sold $3-million in tickets in just 5-weeks. My friend, Judy Bryer from Summerlin, who was Joan's personal assistant during the Dynasty years and used to stand in for her during filming, flew there for opening night and reported back to Luxe Life: "The show was great. The girls were great. Everybody wanted to see the Dynasty stars reunited. Maybe they were all hoping for a repeat of the famous, mud-wrestling scene. However, not in this production." Joan's long-time romance and 5-year marriage with producer Percy Gibson continues happily onwards. The cast moved onto Philadelphia today and the nearest the touring play will get to Vegas is Phoenix, San Diego and Los Angeles in January, before its Broadway run. Joan promises to come visit us again in Vegas on her week's break.
Joan Collins and Judy Bryer, Joan's personal assistant during the 'Dynasty' years.
STRIP SCRIBBLES
The one-named pop-icon Prince is back on the late-night Vegas party scene. He turned up with his gal-pal at PURE in Caesars and royally commanded the Red Room just for the two of them as he sipped on port. Next night, he and his girlfriend sipped only water as they stayed at Tangerine until 4:30AM, watching the bumpin' grindin' dance floor action but not once moving to cut up the rug! Also at PURE, the lovely ladies of 'La Femme,' PRIDE fighter Vandalay Silva, 'Mindfreak' illusionist Criss Angel, and the sexy Lakers cheerleaders "practicing" their routines on the dance floor to the delight of partygoers. ... It took longer than expected, but here's the magical-moment photo of singer soul-mates and love-couple Ashanti and Nelly at her TAO birthday party, as they were about to blow-out the candles. (Click here for the Luxe Life coverage of the party.)
Ashanti and main squeeze Nelly during her surprise birthday party at TAO.
TONIGHT'S TIP
If you've ever wanted to mingle with models, tonight's the night when the stunning strutters from RED ModelAgency party at ghostbar in the Palms. Just as stunning platinum photographs of the best and most memorable events in 20th Century sports go on display in the Neil Leifer gallery at Caesars Palace's new spectacular Augustus Tower.
TOMORROW'S TEASE
Sizzling sexy sassy Sirens celebrate 3 successful years of fighting off the marauding macho men at the Treasure Island pirate show, and gorgeous lady-lead Stacy Jane spills all the secrets. Plus, Vince Neil's brand new tattoo parlor and a brand new non-gaming hotel gets ready to open just one block from Strip Central.
CONTACT US
You can
give us your insights on life, love and the pursuit of happiness with
an email
to robinsvegas@aol.com To
ensure you don't miss one drumbeat of the new edition,
click
here
or at the 'Alert Me' up top if you'd like to know the
split-second we
post the brand new Luxe Life.Go to AOL Vegas for much more on hotels, casinos, restaurants, nightlife, and everything Las Vegas! Check our travel section for great deals on hotels, airfare and much more! And when visiting Vegas, besure to see Las Vegas Magazine in your hotel suite featuring a print edition of AOL Vegas Luxe Life, and an incredible directory of attractions, shows and restaurants.
robinsvegas at 7:38:00 AM PDT Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
