Objects Glow in the Dark : Collector’s Hobby Shines When the Lights Are Off

Paul Hill gets turned on by things that glow in the dark.

He’s collected hundreds of glow-in-the-dark items, ranging from rosary beads to a hockey mask like the one worn by “Jason,” the unkillable fiend in the “Friday the 13th” horror film series.

“It all really started a few years ago when I found my childhood glow-in-the-dark rosary,” said Hill, standing in front of the five shelves that hold the collection in his apartment.

Since then, the collection has grown to include 300 glow-in-the-dark icicles alone.

The largest item, and Hill’s favorite, is a rosary from Santa Fe, N.M., that measures about four feet.

Glowing Nail Polish

“I even have nail polish that glows in the dark,” Hill said. He added that the polish “lasts about two weeks,” but was quick to add he found out how long it lasted “from a friend who tried it. I didn’t wear it.”

People who hear about the odd collection often send items to Hill, who organizes benefits and other events for a living.

“I received a set of glow-in-the-dark worry beads from someone in the Peace Corps,” he said.

A friend found a glow-in-the-dark squid at the Monterey Aquarium.

“The aquarium is supposed to be a very serious place. And here’s this glow-in-the-dark thing.”

The collection includes blue-glowing spiders, glow-in-the-dark light-bulb earrings, glowing yo-yos, gleaming skeletons and an eerie jump rope.

Shoes and Laces

Of course, there’s a set of glow-in-the dark shoe laces--and Hill has the glow-in-the dark shoes to go with them.

One of the most unusual items is a sun visor from Hawaii.

“Why would anyone who wants to be in the sun want something that glows in the dark?” he wondered.

Being an aficionado of glow-in-the-dark may seem strange anywhere but San Francisco.

Hill once entered his collection in the San Francisco County Fair collectibles contest. He lost to rivals that included hamburger presses, dinosaur fossils and thimbles.

“It was fun, though, watching people take a look at the collection. They had to pull a black hood over their head to create darkness. They laughed a lot and you could tell they were having a good time.”

Paperweights and Trays

Hill gathers other things, and the glow-in-the-dark collection may not seem so strange when placed next to his nearly complete set of state trays. How about the photo album filled with Hill posed at state line markers? There’s also a collection of those glass paperweights which create a snowstorm inside when shaken.

One, from Los Angeles, rains soot.

Lest you think nothing else is going through Hill’s mind except strange collections, it should be mentioned that he won $21,000 on the “Jeopardy!” television game show.

The glow-in-the-dark collection got brief national exposure when show host Alex Trebek asked Hill what he did in his spare time.

The audience laughed, but Trebek didn’t.

“I think he was thinking I’m just too peculiar,” said Hill.