The Curse Of Robert The Doll

by

I snapped a photo of Robert The Doll before reading that he puts curses on anyone who takes his photograph. Uh oh. Surely it’s just a myth, I thought. Curious, I began reading about the doll’s history. In 1903, Robert was given to four-year old Gene Otto, who lived in Key West. As Gene grew up he blamed everything bad that happened on the doll. By the time Gene was married, Robert had taken the blame for a lifetime of lies, misdeeds, and mischief.

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Robert The Doll is on display at the East Martello Museum and Fort in Key West

Some say Robert’s face had begun to change by the time Gene died in 1974, that his eyes grew more expressive. People insisted that the doll moved around and could be heard giggling behind their backs. Many who came in contact with Robert experienced bad luck, as if the doll was getting even for all the years he had been made a scapegoat. The curse of Robert The Doll grew into such a well-known legend in Key West that whenever things went wrong, locals would simply shrug and say, “Blame it on Robert.” But Robert’s real fame came when the “Chucky” horror film series (Child’s Play, Child’s Play 2, Child’s Play 3, Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky, etc.) came out, as they were said to have been modeled on the real-life story of Robert the Doll.

There are many theories about why Robert behaves the way he does. Some believe it is an ancient curse. Others say it is voodoo. Still others insist that Gene Otto’s ghost has returned to the doll whom he loved so much. The museum cats seem to believe in Robert’s dark powers – they keep their distance when staring up at the glass case in East Martello Museum where Robert is enthroned. People, on the other hand, tend to doubt the legend, and have suffered the consequences. Letters scattered at Robert’s feet and tacked up on an adjacent wall are testimonials from dozens of unbelievers who were cursed by Robert The Doll, such as this one:

Since our visit to the museum, we’ve been under a dark cloud.

I began to develop a rather severe toothache. Two days later, Hurricane Charly cut our vacation short and we joined the parade of evacuees leaving the islands. We were evacuated from our vacation spot three days early with my mouth in tremendous pain. My sister-in-law was also having female health issues. We were all forced to make alternate travel arrangements on the run.

My sister-in-law lives in Clearwater. After a problem laden and horrendous trip, she finally got home, only to be evacuated from there too. She packed up her two cats and headed for her parents house in Winter Haven and ended up in the middle of the storm there. They lost power for two days.

When we arrived in Miami for our flight back to Indianapolis, the plane broke and they had to “find” a different one for us. The following day, back in Indiana, I went to the dentist to learn that my tooth had abscessed and I had to have a root canal.

Last night we had a huge thunderstorm. Our house was hit by lightning – not once, but TWICE! We were unplugging things, but not fast enough. We lost three TV’s and a large satellite dish. The first hit, which sounded like a gunshot in the house, took one large TV and the satellite dish, and the second hit got two more TV’s. Again, the sound was horribly frightening.

Please do me a favor and tell Robert that we did not mean to anger or offend him and we’re sorry if we did. His photo did turn out good, so he sat very nicely for me. Would he like it back?

Yours sincerely,

Cindy Lyons

Battle Ground, Indiana

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Hundreds of letters have been sent to the Museum by visitors who beg Robert’s forgiveness and ask him to remove his curse

As for me, well, Robert and I were introduced several days ago and so far I’ve suffered no ill effects. But then, I’m not taking any chances. Like the cats, I choose to believe.

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1,433 thoughts on “The Curse Of Robert The Doll”

  1. Dear Robert,
    I’m so sorry that I look you up online and saw your picture without your permission. I was just curious. Please do not harm. I am really sorry and ask for your forgiveness.

    Reply

  4. Dear Robert sorry for searching you on the internet i just found you on facebook so i got curious and searched you sorry if i offend or hurt your feelings sorry for what ive done and iwont do it again.

    IM SO SO SO SORRY

    Reply

  5. Dear Robert,
    I sincerely apologize for searching you up on the Internet and looking at your photos. I was just curious about your story and I am so sorry for doing this without your permission. I hope I haven’t disrespected you in any way. I will refrain from looking at any photos or stories of you in the future.

    -Joe

    Reply

    • Dear Robert,

      I am so sorry for searching you up on the Internet and looking at your photos and reading the stories about you. I was very curious. I decided to believe that you were real. I shall never look at photos and stories of you ever again, without your permission. Thank you for reading my letter.May you accept my apologies. Thank you.

      -With thanks, Josh

      Reply

      • Dear Robert
        I am sorry for looking you up without permission. I didn’t realize I needed it. Please accept my apology.
        Sincerely,
        Hannah

        Reply

  7. Dear Robert

    Please forgive me as I looked at your pictures.I am sorry & not intended to disappoint you.so please its my heartily request to forgive me.
    I did not mean to upset you.
    I promise to never upset or disappoint you again.

    Gaurav

    Reply

  8. Deare Robert
    I am extremely sorry for looking at pictures, vidoes and writing about you online without your permission to do it. I ask for your forgiveness for this and I didn’t not mean to upset you at all as I was unaware. I shall never look or read about you again unless you give me permission. Please accept my apology for my terrible mistake.

    Reply

  9. Robert, sorry for researching and looking at pictures of you without your permission, i hope i have not offended you.

    -ken

    Reply

  10. Dear Robert,

    Many apologies for looking at your photos before asking for your permission. I stumbled upon your story accidentally and did not know what it meant until now. I will refrain from looking and reading again and fully will respect your privacy. I hope you find it in yourself to forgive me (or my family for that matter) for my curiosity and foolishness.

    Once again I apologise profusely. I hope you are being looked after well.

    Thank you,

    Pat

    Reply

  14. Alyssa

    July 2 , 2016

    Dear Robert

    I am deeply sorry for searching you and accidentally looking at your photos I didn’t meant to offend you and I truly believe
    That your not fake I’m sorry .

    Reply

  15. Dear Robert,

    I’m so sorry for not believing your power was real originally and I’m sorry for thinking you and those who believe in you must be fake. I have great respect for every entity and you are obviously not just a story told on the internet, but a real life entity deserving of respect. Please forgive my disbelief and forgive me for disturbing you in the first place by researching you and looking into your eyes through your photos.

    Apologies & Cheers,
    Annalese

    Reply

    • Dear Robert,

      I’m sorry for bothering you and searching you up on the Internet. Please forgive me for this idiotic act that I chose this night.

      Thank You

      Carlos

      Reply

  16. Dear Robert

    Please accept my apologies, I never should have searched you up without your permission. Please forgive me. I promise I wont do it again.

    Reply

  18. I apologize for being my nosey self and being curious about who you were and what you were about Mr. Robert. Please accept my deepest regrets of doing so without your permission. LlV

    Reply

  19. Dear Robert,
    I’m sincerely sorry I forgot to ask permission before reading up on you and looking at videos and images on Google. I didn’t visit and take your picture without permission though- and if I were to visit I promise to ask first- so I hope you will be able to forgive not only me, but my family as well.
    Thankyou, Robert.

    Reply

  20. Why is everyone apologizing? He only curses you if you don’t ask before you take a picture, or if you don’t get his permission.

    Reply

  21. Dear Robert

    Accept my apologies, I shouldn’t have looked you up on google and look at pictures of you without permission. I shall refrain from looking at any more photos, or literature about you.

    Reply

  22. Dearest Robert,

    I Apologize For Seeing And Watching Your Photos Without Your Permission And Form Hereby I Should Not Do It

    Reply

  23. Dear Robert I am really sorry for searching you up on Google and watching you on YouTube without your permission please forgive me.

    Reply

  24. Dear Robert I would like to apologize, because about 3 months ago I saw you’re pictures without permision. But most of all I want to apologize because I showed you’re picture to my ex wife even dough she didn’t want to see it. So sorry for looking at you’re picture and for showing her you’re picture with out permision.

    Reply

  25. dear Robert,
    please accept my dearest apologies, I shall reframe from looking at any photos and literature about you. again I am sorry

    Reply

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