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Joseph Späh

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Circus Performer

The Resume

    (March 14, 1905-September 30, 1986)
    Born in Strasbourg, France
    Acrobat and contortionist in circuses, vaudeville, and ice shows
    Best known routine involved him climbing a streetlamp to light a cigarette, after which the lamp began swaying as he pretended to be desperately holding on
    Survived the Hindenburg disaster (May 6, 1937)

Why he might be annoying:

    He used the stage name Ben Dova.
    He was originally supposed to take a steamship from Germany to the US, but missed it.
    People who think that the Hindenburg was sabotaged, including captain Max Pruss, usually chose him as their most likely suspect.
    He frequently broke airship rules by going to the freight room to feed his dog, Ulla.
    The fire started in the aft of the Hindenburg, near the cargo area.
    As an acrobat, he presumably could have climbed into the rigging to plant a bomb.

Why he might not be annoying:

    During the crash of the Hindenburg, he hung out a window, then let go when the airship was twenty feet from the ground and did a safety roll as he hit the ground.
    He broke his ankle in the jump.
    Ulla died in the Hindenburg disaster.
    There was no actual evidence that the Hindenburg was sabotaged, much less that he was responsible.
    He was married to his wife Evelyn for 55 years.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 111 Votes: 42.34% Annoying