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.
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
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.
Dear Robert, I am so sorry for looking into your eyes. Please forgive me. I just wanted to know more about you. I didn’t mean any harm.
Sorry for looking at your picture Robert. Please forgive me. It was not my intention.
Dear Robert please forgive me for any disrespect I may have done to you I meant none of it I respect with all I got and hope you can forgive me for anything I’ve done I do believe in you
Dear Robert I meant no disrespect I meant robert sorry for looking at your pictures please forgive me and don’t curse me or harm me in anyway I am for one a believer in you I’m so sorry please forgive me
Dear Robert I meant no respect looking at your pictures please forgive me if I disrespected you in anyway and I can say for myself that I believe in you and everything your absolutely real.
Dear Robert, I’m so sorry for looking into your eyes without permission I don’t know wether or not that was okay or disrespectful in any way to you but please do not curse me or my family or friends. Again I apologize I had no idea this website would show me a picture of you I did not mean to look into your eyes or picture at all.
I am sincerely very sorry.
Dear Robert
I am sorry, for looking at the pictures of you with out your permission I was just reading the rules sorry for looking at your picture I did not know please forgive me.
Dear Robert
I am sorry, for looking at the pictures of you with out your permission I was just reading the rules sorry for looking at your picture.
Dear robert,
I am sorry for looking at your photos without your permission. I was researching the rules for taking photos of you.
Dear Robert,
Apologies for happening across this photo. I was looking up how the permission for photos of you works in the event I should ever visit the museum you inhabit. I didn’t realize the blog would share a photo taken without your permission.
Please don’t curse me or other foolish internet users that were trying to learn more about your history and story.
I am sincerely sorry.
I’m so sorry Robert,
For looking at your picture and looking you in the eyes, as well as for researching up about you without permissions.
Can he attach through a photo?
Also Sam and Colby’s video on yt is good to learn abt it.
I watched it and I feel like someone is always watching me. I have been experencing terrible pain in my back. I should have never took the photo of Robert. Not sorry
I watched the video and said that stupid thing can’t do anything to me. I went a few days later to visite him. I said you won’t do squat to me. F-U Robert. For 4 months I have had a feeling like someone was watching me. I have also for 4 months have had terrible back pain. Sorry not sorry for taking a photo of you.
Dear Robert I’m sorry for looking at your picture without permission.
Hello Robert,
I am sorry for searching and looking at the picture of you, please forgive me. I apologize for not asking you for permission first.
I’m sorry I accidentally saw your photo on here Robert. I didn’t mean to search or look. Please forgive me don’t cure me or my family or friends.
Hi robert i am so sorry i also didn’t mean to look at your picture or into your eyes. I was just trying to read about your story and didn’t know you don’t like it. Please forgive me I never meant to disrespect you.
Hi, Robert! I just want to say I’m sorry that I looked without permission. Can you please forgive me? Can you not give me bad luck? I promise never to anger you again.
Dear Robert,
I’m truly sorry for looking into your eyes without permission. I did not mean to look into your eyes or cause disrespect to you in any way. Please do not curse me or my friends or family. Again, I apologize for looking at any picture of you without your permission. I’m sincerely sorry.
I’m thinking of writing a letter to him to apologize. Did it work? Twice when we have been to Key West after I took pictures of Robert and called him Chuckie. (And told him I loved him), my elderly mom has had bad things happen to her. We are coming back min July and I fear something else will happen odor a third time… and these are not small events.
stop thinking about it
Dear robot I am sorry I looked at your photo
We just wanted to read story’s about you
Please forgive me I didn’t know
I am sorry Robert for looking at your photo. Please forgive me
Dear Robert, I did not know you didn’t like when people looked at your photo, and for that I’m deeply sorry. Please forgive me and don’t curse me or my fanily or friends.
I didn’t apologize to Robert and my cat died. Please don’t doubt the powers he beholds. He bestowed this curse upon me, they can’t find my cats body now. I’m so sorry Robert please forgive me.
Sincerely, Eugenia Ze Zoll
Dear Robert,
I’m truly sorry for looking into your eyes without permission. I did not mean to look into your eyes or cause disrespect to you in anyway. Please do not curse me or my friends or family. Again I apologize for looking at any picture of you with your permission. I’m sincerely sorry.
Sorry for looking at your photo Robert, I didn’t mean to look into your eyes, or disrespect you in any way.
Dear Robert, I’m so sorry for looking into your eyes without permission I don’t know wether or not that was okay or disrespectful in any way to you but please do not curse me or my family or friends. Again I apologize I had no idea this website would show me a picture of you I did not mean to look into your eyes or picture at all.
I am sincerely very sorry.