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. Hello Robert, sorry for looking at your photo without your permission. May you forgive us who by curiosity look at your photo. I really wish you’d forgive us and do us no harm. Thank you.

    Reply

  2. Hello Robert, sorry for viewing your photo,like everyone I got curious about you and tried to learn more about you. May you forgive us and do no us harm. Thank you.

    Reply

  3. Dear Robert,

    Sorry for viewing your photo and reading about your story. I mean no harm, I just found your story interesting. Please do not curse or bestow any bad luck to me and my family.

    Reply

  4. SOOO sorry for viewing your picture Robert without your permission, hope you can forgive me.
    I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble or got you angry in anyway.
    Please cause me or my family no harm in anyway.
    Hope you will be okay and no body harms u,
    You are really cool and I love your story about you and what paranormal things have happened to you, Gene Otto and the rest of the family

    Yours Sincerely,
    Courtney

    Contact me at:
    [email protected]
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Sorry Robert for looking at your picture and watching videos about you without your permisson. I was just curious about you and your story. Have a good day!

      Reply

  14. Robert,
    Sorry about looking at pictures and videos of you without asking you for permission. No harm was intended.
    your friends.
    Jeff and jen

    Reply

  15. Im sorry Robert I had no idea it applied also if I looked you up. I was just curious to read more about you. Please dont curse me or my family.

    Reply

  19. Robert, I am so very sorry I looked you up and looked at your picture without permission. I honestly didn’t know it applied to pictures. I beg for your forgiveness. I would also like to say that I respect you and did not mean to offend you in any way. Please don’t curse me.

    Sincerely,
    Sula Bintley

    Reply

  20. Dear Robert,

    Me and my friend are so sorry that we looked at your picture without asking . We HOPE you can find it in your heart to forgive us

    your’s truly ,
    Taivyon Palmer and Arquera smith

    Reply

  22. Hello, Robert, I am sorry for looking at pictures and videos of you without your permission. You are very interesting to read about. I hope you will forgive me.
    Sincerely,
    Liv

    Reply

    • OE ROBERT IM SO SORRY FOR LOOKING UP YOUR VIDS AND PIC WITH OUT PERMISSION said liv, hay liv tack a real pic withe out his permission at the museum then you can apologies to (RTD)

      Reply

  24. Hello Robert,
    I am so sorry for looking at your picture without your permission. Please please forgive me. I just wanted to know more about you, and I came across this article. I did not know it attached a picture of you with the article. If I angry in any way, please forgive me!
    Sincerely yours!
    Quyen

    Reply

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