The Curse Of Robert The Doll

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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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1,434 thoughts on “The Curse Of Robert The Doll”

  1. Dear Robert I am very sorry for looking at your pictures on the interent, I was just being curious and wanted to read about you. Very sorry for disrespecting your privacy.

    Reply

      • I’m sorry too. From Ireland
        Woah just as I was about to hit post I heard this eery tap at me window. I’m on the second floor and there is no way its coincidence. Sorry again.

        Reply

    • dear robert,

      forgive me for my actions on looking at your pictures and reading your life story without your authorization/permission. i apologize with all my heart. please don’t curse me. and i respect you in every way i can. i am very sorry

      Reply

  3. dear robert, i am sorry that i did not take ur permission before looking at your pictures and reading your story.
    please do not put ur curse on me.
    sorry again..

    Reply

    • Dear Robert,

      Sorry for looking at your photo without permission. I am deeply sorry and I will not look at your pictures again without permission.

      Reply

  5. Dear Robert,

    I am so sorry for looking at your pictures. I didn ‘t mean to offend your privacy. I pay my respects, and hope you are at peace. I will not look at your pictures again witjout your permission.

    Reply

  6. so sorry for looking you up Robert. I didn’t know much about you and i heard about you from a friend. My apologies I mean no offense to you.
    sincerely,
    -flame

    Reply

  9. Dear Robert,
    I am sorry for looking you up on the Internet without your permission. I looked up the movie, “Child’s Play” and that led me to looking up you since the “Child’s Play” movies are based on you. Please forgive me.

    ~Giulia

    Reply

  11. Dear Robert,
    I am so sorry for looking at your pictures amd reading about you. My friend told me about you but I didn’t believe him and at first I thought you weren’e real. I now know that you are real and I am very sorry. Please forgive me, I am only 12 and I didn’t know.

    My Dearest Apoligies, Girl

    Reply

    • stupid gilr dont be scard you did not take a picture of robert in the museum dum dum dont be pairenioya your a yung girl dont be fed up on this stuff that can make you scard of stupid myth but this can be real but dont be scard punk nathing will happen to you bye and marry christmas!!

      Reply

    • YOE ALL YOU STUPID PEOPLE HOO DID NOT TAKE PIC OF (RTD) AT THE MUSEUM STOP FREKING APOLOGISING TO (RTD) YOU GUYS ARE GITTING ON MY NERVS

      FACKS PLEAS STOP HE WONT CURSE YOU FOR THAT AND FIRST OF ALL HOW WOULD HE KNOW YOU DID AND WY WOULD IT BE UP HER IF IT CAN GET YOU CURSED LIKE YOU GUYS MACKE ME LAUGH FOR REAL SO PLEAS STOP PLEAS KNOW THAT YOU KNOW IF YOU READ THIS TEX THANK YOU AND GOOD BYE MARRY CHRISTMAS!

      Reply

  16. Dear robert, i apologize for looking you up and looking at pictures of you without your permission. Sincere apologies from me and my boyfriend.

    Reply

  17. Dear idiots on this web page, you have to be kidding me. You are seriously apologizing to a doll thats suppose to be haunted?? lol….And some of you morons actually vote….

    Reply

  19. Dear Robert,

    I’ve looked you up twice today and I’m not sure if I should apologize for looking at pictures that I didn’t even take but if you are what they say you are,please know that I am not afraid of what you do.i will apologize because you tend to get what you want.its really kind of hard to believe in such things though,just know that I have a god and I believe in him more than I believe in ghost stories.if you are as they say,why would you want to be angry for so long.wait,don’t answer that or……do answer it.

    Your questionable girl,
    Aireyunna

    Reply

  22. According to legend,
    visitors to the museum wishing to take a
    picture of Robert must first ask him
    permission (which he apparently grants by
    tilting his head). If they do not receive
    permission and take the photo anyway, they
    are cursed. You guys didnt take a photo of Rob… some of you stumbled across the images of Rob on Google or the Internet. .. Therefore you won’t be cursed….

    Reply

    • Robert,

      I did take your picture a year ago at the museum and I’m so sorry. My life has been hell since then. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I was just fascinated with you. Would you please remove the curse, I’m so very sorry.

      Reply

      • Dear GiGi,

        I AM ROBERT!!!

        I have taken over a keyboard to send you this very important message.

        Abracadabra Alakazam! Mehem Nisfori Agoul Beelzebub Dagon Bam Andthedirtisgone. Shemham Sheroth. Nikara come forth and removeth my curse.

        Let my accursed go!

        Really. I decided it was totally lame of me to put a curse on people for simply taking my picture. If it wasn’t for the staggering gullibility, intellectual immaturity and possible mental health impairment of people like you, I’d probably be occupying a landfill somewhere by now.

        Anyway, now if bad things happen to you, what I want you to do is identify the source of your problem (I promise it’s not me anymore) and then take positive, pro-active steps towards rectifying the situation so you can have a happier life.

        Also, please realise that bad things sometimes happen to pretty much everybody. You need to accept that and deal with it.

        Now Bashungah! Donate $5 to a charity of your election and my spell is broken forever. You’re cured. (Isn’t it amazing that cured and cursed are only one letter apart–spooky eh?)

        What’s more, you are curse proof from all of my demonic associates as well for the rest of your mortal tenure (that’s a fancy demon phrase for life). Full barley pardon from all curses. This applies to all of you who have posted below and above. For real. Go forth and be happy (and please take responsibility for your own lives from here on)! Zonkadonk!

        SO SAYETH ROBERT!!

        Reply

    • This whole story is stupid. It’s just a stupid doll and some cloth. Why is everyone saying oh my gosh im so sorry for looking at your pictures don’t curse me. Man come on. I mean is it only me who thinks this is stupid and so fake??? There for oveously i am NOT sorry for looking at your pictures nor taking them…
      -Kendall Culp

      Reply

      • oe it can be true but git out of her you know that crap is just absurd and tipe dum haha redy redy I ROBERT I CURSE THEE FOR LOOKING UP MY PICTURES WITH OUT MY PROMITION BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

        hahahahahahaHAAAAAAAAAA
        DY robert DONT CURSE ME

        Reply

  25. Dear Robert
    My friend Ariel and I were looking up spooky things and you happened to pop up we are truly sorry for not asking permission we had no knowledge of this. R.I.P thank you for understanding

    Reply

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