New Jersey Man Sets World Record for Having Way Too Much Time on His Hands: Collects 5,548 PEZ Dispensers
In a move that will go down in history as the ultimate flex of having an excessive amount of free time, a New Jersey man has officially set the world record for owning the most PEZ dispensers.
Bob Newhart, a 48-year-old accountant from Hackensack, NJ, has been collecting PEZ dispensers for over two decades. According to Newhart, he first stumbled upon the world of PEZ collecting during a routine trip to the dentist, where he was given a PEZ dispenser as a prize for sitting still during his root canal.
From there, Newhart’s love affair with the candy dispensers only grew stronger. He started scouring garage sales, antique stores, and toy shops for rare and vintage PEZ dispensers, spending tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours on his quest to amass the world’s largest collection.
“I always knew that someday I’d be famous for something,” Newhart said, “and what better way to get there than by owning over 5,000 novelty candy dispensers?”
Newhart’s collection includes a wide range of PEZ dispensers, from classic superheroes like Superman and Batman to obscure cartoon characters and celebrities like Kermit the Frog and Elvis Presley.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Newhart’s massive collection officially breaks the previous record set by a woman in Germany who owned 3,000 PEZ dispensers. When asked how he felt about his world record achievement, Newhart simply shrugged.
“I mean, it’s nice to have my name in the record books and all,” he said, “but at the end of the day, I’m still just a guy with way too much time on my hands and an obsessive love for small plastic toys that dispense candy.”
While some may view Newhart’s collection as a frivolous waste of time and money, others argue that it’s a testament to the power of passion and dedication. “Bob’s collection is a reflection of his deep love and appreciation for the art of the PEZ dispenser,” says Dr. Frank Schwartz, a renowned PEZ historian and author of the book “Popping Off: A History of PEZ Dispensers.”
“He’s not just collecting toys, he’s collecting history,” Schwartz says. “Each one of these little plastic dispensers tells a story, and Bob has preserved those stories for generations to come.”
Whether you view Newhart’s collection as a testament to human ingenuity or just a ridiculous waste of time and money, there’s no denying that it’s a sight to behold. So if you’re ever in the area, be sure to swing by Newhart’s house and take a peek at his impressive collection – just don’t be surprised if you end up wondering why in the world someone would spend so much time and money on something so seemingly trivial.
