Strange Collections

Rick Reiss has always loved hats and he’s had several collections over the years. He sold his first collection when he was in college. Then, he started collecting hats again in 1975. At that time, he got a job as a stage director at the Danish Royal Theatre and he even made some out of theatrical costumes. However, in 1976, he decided to move to Copenhagen and sold his second hat collection because he needed money. He has been in Copenhagen since then and today he is working for an advertising agency. The first time he showed his collection was when he put a few hats on the wall of his office. His friends loved the idea and gave him a few hats of their own. He has collected 362 hats so far and he is still collecting. His friends even helped him make a website where people can see his hat collection and also sell their hats.

Ann Mitchell Lovell loves bananas! When she was a kid, her parents called her “Anna Banana”. But it wasn’t until she went to Hawaii on holiday in 1980 that she really got stuck on bananas and started collecting banana items. A friend and Ann found a place called ‘Bananas’ there and she bought a T-shirt with that logo on it. Over the years, she has found other items to add to her collection. Her friends have also helped her out and today Ann’s collection is quite big. She has collected nearly 4,000 banana items! Postcards, key rings, pillows, books, dolls etc. You can see her collection at the Washington Banana Museum.