Susan Smith/FlickrRobert the Doll now lives at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. "Robert the Haunted Doll: Creeping Out Floridians Since 1904", "The Story Behind the World's Most Terrifying Haunted Doll", "Robert The Doll Artist House Key West Key West Guesthouse", "History of Fort East Martello Key West Art and Historical Society", "Fort East Martello Museum (Key West, FL): Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) TripAdvisor", "Halloween Story The Legend of Robert the Doll", "TAPS hunts for things that go bump in the night", "Filmmaker Andrew Jones Talks Killer Dolls, Jurassic Terrors, and Nazi Werewolves", "Remote Controlled: Stars of Amazon's 'Lore' Discuss Horror Stories, What Scares Them", The Key West Art & Historical Society's dedicated page for Robert the doll, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_(doll)&oldid=1140593928, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The doll was exhibited at TapsCON, a convention hosted by, The doll and a replica doll sold at the gift shop at the Martello museum appeared in the second season of, The doll was featured in an episode of the podcast and TV series, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 20:33. Finally, she donated the creepy toy to the Fort East Martello Museum in 1994, claiming that the doll was indeed haunted. His face is covered in nicks, chips, and holes. 40K views 1 year ago #RoberttheDoll #KeyWest #Echotraveladventures Join us on another adventure as we head back to tell the story of the most haunted doll in the world, Robert the Doll.. There are many videos out there on YouTube, as well as, books, TV shows, etc. He also has social media platforms that the museum employees handle, to allow those unable to travel to Key West to keep up with Robert. In some ways, this is similar to the curse of Uluru. Robert the Dolls history dates back to the late 1800s when the rich Otto family moved to Key West, Florida. After all, the mysterious doesn't always have to be serious. He made arrangements for the doll in the topmost section of the house. took a video of us in the air. Still other sources claim that the doll disappeared after Ottos house changed hands several times after his death. Check it out: Apology Letters. Also, check out La Pascualita: An Extremely Well-Preserved Corpse, or an Eerily Life-like Mannequin?. One of the servants grew extremely tired of this constant maltreatment and sought to take revenge. It seems everywhere someone has posted about Robert the Doll, be it on personal websites or YouTube, people can be found apologizing for viewing his pictures and doing even the tiniest bit of research. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago, and the Art Students League in New York, Gene Otto went to the Parisian Sorbonne, where he met his wife, Anne. Make sure you have enough time to have a complete conversation. He has a slight resemblance of humanity. Possessing a non-memorable cinematic name (like Annabelle), tales of Roberts alleged powers (moving objects, moving himself, causing accidents, threatening (in her mind) to kill the young girl) inspired the movie doll Chucky in Childs Play.. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Plays Jean Otto. 65 titsmcgee84 3 yr. ago Subscribe Today! Still, every year, hundreds of tourists flock to the museum to catch a glimpse of the famous local legend, even if it means being cursed for a few hours. 399 Likes, 32 Comments - Robert Tonner (@tonner.robert) on Instagram: "I did a doll creation demo for the National Institute of American Doll Artists. During this time, the rumors of a haunted doll started to take over Key West. At any rate, many people who feel cursed send letters of apology to the museum, which are affixed to that wall. In 2015, a Robert the Doll movie was released simply titled Robert. Arguably Key West's favorite haunted attraction, Robert the Doll has been wreaking havoc since the early-1900s. That is until they heard a completely different voice reply to Gene. The Twitter feed #sorryrobert is dedicated to apologies to Robert, a not-so-lovable doll (see a picture here if you dare) whose strange powers were chronicled by its original owner and namesake, Robert Eugene Otto, and by a young girl who many years later found it in a box in the attic. There are conflicting reports about whether her grandfather gave her the doll or if it was one of the familys maids who practiced voodoo in revenge for mistreatment by her staff. The late night cleaning crew has been known to clean Roberts box, and turn off all the lights at the end of the night. The man said he'd seen Robert walk from one window to the other from outside. NASA's Photos From Mars: Don't Tell Me the Red Planet Wasn't Once a Thriving World! Went to a camera store and they could find no reason why our pictures were gone and why the disc was blank. [3], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}243309N 814518W / 24.552389N 81.754869W / 24.552389; -81.754869. Robert was once owned by painter, author, and Key West resident Robert Eugene Otto. ` '; . It was beige in colour and had human-like hair. Gene Otto died in 1974 and Anne moved out. Other commenters would follow suit, some with a meager apology, others with explanations and pleas that the cursed doll not turn its evil eyes on them or their loved ones. This is the tale of Robert the doll. Robert the Doll was a one-of-a-kind design, manufactured by the Steiff Company in Germany, the same company that invented the Teddy Bear. Some visitors write to ask Robert for advice or if he could place a curse on people who have wronged them. I know there was one video of him moving, but then again it looked a bit off, but Ill find that video and get it to the admin to post it. It's alleged that Robert is haunted and has caused accidents and other strange incidents. He started carrying around Robert everywhere he went, much to his wifes dismay. The article says in the second video, you will see him moving! You need to apologize for everything you didn't do, or at least Robert G. Lee does, and in this clip from his full Dry Bar Comedy special he is about to apol. I was just learning about you. Of course, now we know that the worst was yet to come. To catch you up on the story, Here we are now, under the full moon of August, known as the Full Sturgeon Moon according to our handy Old Farmer's Almanac. Robert the Doll is the inspiration behind the 1980s slasher film Child's Play. But even as a newlywed, Gene's love for Robert never waned. The Otto family was a very stern, conservative, and super-wealthy family, in fact, they were the most wealthy family in the areaatthat time. But his eyes are hard beads of black and his sailor suit, while pressed and clean, once belonged to his now-deceased owner. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! Join Ghost City Tours on one of our Ghost Tours and see what the excitment is all about! The museum accepted the doll and its baggage, assuming Reuters claims were, of course, nonsense. 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Cayobo/FlickrThe Artist House, once the home of Robert Eugene Otto. Claims Of Robert The Doll Caught Moving, And Face Changing, On Tape. Many people believe that Robert the Doll is the real life Chuckie, a three foot terror that has been known to cause bad luck for almost a hundred years. The sailor suit Robert the Doll wears is not his original getup. The Ottos did this, locking Robert in a box and placing him up in the attic. If youd like to read more about Robert the Doll, you can of course check out my original post, or head over to his official Facebook page. Genes friends and family say he had an unhealthy relationship with his childhood partner and that after his death in 1974 his wife Anne placed Robert in a chest and kept him in the attic. She quickly realized this wasn't your typical doll, but it didn't scare her. Robert the Doll: Key Wests Haunted Doll | By David Sloan, Recommended Visit: That explains why surrounding the warning sign are dozens of apology letters from people all over the world, asking Robert to stop the madness he's unleashed upon their lives. 4. What people really remember is what they would probably term as an unhealthy relationship with the doll, said Cori Convertito, curator of the Fort East Martello Museum and Roberts current caretaker in an interview with Atlas Obscura. The family started to call the boy by his middle name Gene, Robert was now the dolls name. These days, he can be found locked behind glass at Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. In some ways, it is similar to the Curse of Uluru. In 1994, she donated him to the Fort East Martello Museum. [6][7] It is annually rotated to the Old Post Office and Customhouse in October. Otherwise, youll need to write him an apology letter. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When she decided to check it out, she found Robert in his chair. Robert did it!" Sometimes its as small as just a flash not working or camera batteries dying, but people have also reported flat tires, running out of gas, even more serious things like divorce and death. took a video of us in the air. A real-life Chucky doll? Was it Gene who was mimicking the voice? Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting. The servant (a Bahamian woman) is alleged to have cursed the doll with black magic and handedthe doll to the boy as a parting gift when she left. Visitors have also been known to leave candy, money, and sometimes even joints. Robert now resides in the East Martello Museum in Key West in a glass box. A little boy, Robert Eugene Otto, who lived with his family in Key West, Florida, received a gift. Send us an email to [emailprotected]. In this video a paranormal tour guidesaid some spooky things happened when he tried moving Roberts hat. Robert, as it turns out, wasn't even meant to be a toy. Servants would find broken objects in Genes room, which he would say were broken by Robert. Im sorry I saw your pictures online and read your story, please forgive me. Matt, April 22, 2017 Robert, Im sorry I didnt ask your permission. . Would you be scared of it? What was supposed to be a "life-sized" little boy doll in a sailor's costume, has turned into a sinister symbol of Key West folklore. FacebookRobert the haunted doll is made of fabric and straw. Ron DeSantis after a member called Is that persistent flicker during your Zoom meetings really just a glitch or something sinister caused by you merely looking at an image of Robert? Otto was so close to his new friend that his parents would often hear him whispering to it. Robert the Doll would sit in the top rotunda window. What they're not allowed to do is take a picture of him without asking for permission. Robert started going by his middle name Gene to avoid confusion with the doll. Please do no harm to my family. Made out of dense fabric and stuffed with straw, this century-old doll's appearance is chilling, to say the least. The boat capt. Who would have thought a doll could hold so much power? However, while the rules of Roberts Curse are simple and mostly based on direct contact, in the past few years it seems to have spread to the Internet. Don't say we didn't warn you. I can assure you I meant none." UPDATE : Roberts also apologized to McClellan at the more formal, on-camera press briefing this . However, it was Roberts life in a display case at the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, that inspired the Dont look at Robert curse. The boy and his doll were from this point on inseparable, doing everything together. According to the legend, anyone wanting to take a picture of Robert must first ask permission. The Ottos swore they could hear Robert giggling and walking around the house. Also, the staff of the museum advice visitors to take his permission before clicking photos. History. In a #SorryRobert Twitter version of "The Ring" the movi The doll was dressed in a very unremarkable set of clothing which was quite similar to the uniform of that of an American Naval Officer. Backpackerverse.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Enjoyed this article? Others have said that if you take a picture of Robert, without his permission, youll be cursed for an eternity along with anyone you are with at the museum. Some claim that he was gifted to his late owner Robert Eugene (Gene) Otto from his grandfather in 1904. To this day, visitors claim that cameras malfunction in his presence and electronic devices go haywire. And, wouldnt you know it, when he got home from vacation he began to hear strange noises during the night.. And, wouldnt you know it, when he got home from vacation he began to hear strange noises during the night., 8 Infamous Haunted Objects You Should Probably Avoid, Robert the Dolls Online Hexfest Goes Mainstream, Lunar Energies Out of Balance After Witches Cast Spell On Moon. Robert and its current owners arent helping the museum has a Facebook page and website with plenty of pictures just waiting to pass on the alleged curse. Are you visiting Key West? Eventually Mrs. Otto became depressed and died of unknown causes with Gene shortly falling suit. But there are many more. They could also hear Jean talking to them in two different voices at the same time through the closed doors. Apologizing is often a very personal act. Would you second guess keeping it or blame it on something else? Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Oct 5, 2022 Comment Theophanes is a New-England-based blogger, traveler, writer, photographer, sculptor, and lover of cats. The staff has learned to respect. Whenever Gene was confronted about any mishap, he would bluntly blame Robert by saying, Robert did it. Robert the Doll was a one-of-a-kind design, manufactured by the Steiff Company in Germany, the same company that invented the Teddy Bear. Most people wouldnt think twice about the doll nor where it really came from. 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An example can be found by a reviewer on TripAdvisor, who took not one, but three photos of Robert without asking permission. When he first arrived there, the authorities reported a shift of energy in the museum premises. PSA for those curious/ confused but do NOT go into #sorryrobert someone posted a picture of a very haunted doll named Robert, without its consent and basically if you do see it you just need to say you're sorry to prevent him from cursing you (i wish i was kidding), The Twitter feed #sorryrobert is dedicated to apologies to Robert, a not-so-lovable doll (see a picture here if you dare) whose strange powers were chronicled by its original owner and namesake, Robert Eugene Otto, and by a young girl who many years later found it in a box in the attic. He's been published in The New York Times" and "Huffington Post and has co-authored numerous collections of trivia, puzzles and humor. Might be a robot. In fact, we may have to upgrade that hundreds to thousands. Then, read about the history of the teddy bear. All right reserved. On the other hand, youll find humor, honesty, passion, and hopefully interesting content at the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. The doll was reportedly manufactured by the Steiff Company of Germany, purchased by Otto's grandfather while on a trip to Germany in 1904, and given to young Otto as a birthday gift. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms His wife died two years later. TripAdvisor user HowardRK didnt ask permission and, in a post on the site described what happened afterward. According to Legged, the doll has supernatural abilities that allow it to move, change its facial expressions and make laughing sounds. The house remained there until it was sold and the new owner donated it to the Key West Art and Historical Society and he and his teddy bear, That you must first ask permission to photograph him before doing so or you will be cursed with misfortune. The story dates back to the year 1906. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . For some time, she'd heard strange noises in the attic. The idea is that, by doing so, Robert will have mercy on them and remove the cloud of their misfortune. Got back home, the disc was blank. We've received your submission. If his head tilts, dont take a picture! The story dates back to the year 1906. Instead, it was an outfit his owner Gene Otto wore as a child. You can check them out on Instagram under Fantasy Foundlings and let me know your thoughts..it would be much appreciated. To all who may read thisplease, listen to the nice lady at the front desk at the musuem [sic]. In 1994, the doll was donated to the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where it has become a popular tourist attraction. Scientists In China Just Used Salmon Sperm To Make An Environmentally-Friendly 'DNA Plastic', Guatemalan Stowaway Survives Flight To Miami Hidden In Plane's Landing Gear, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. RobertThe doll was created sometime around the late 1800s by a Haitian maid. He is dressed in sailor gear and has a strange looking dog with large eyes sitting on his lap. The doll originally belonged to Robert Eugene Otto, an artist described as "eccentric", who belonged to a prominent Key West family. Soon, the doll was given away. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, 27.04 - MU Plus+ Podcast - High-Res Healing, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, A 3,500-Year-Old Frozen Mummified Bear Found in Siberia. I apologize to anyone who took offense to my poor choice of words. Required fields are marked *. In this section youll find anything strange and unexplained, itll leave you scratching your head! In fact, we might have to upgrade that hundreds to thousands. Writer, blogger, and part-time peddler of mysterious tales. The idea is that, in doing so, Robert will have mercy on them and lift their cloud of bad luck. He also has his own line of merchandise and yes you can buy replicas. Twitter users are trying to stem the bleeding of the world right now by apologizing to a cursed doll. But if odd things started to happen when the doll was in your home. As legend has it, Robert can be seen walking past those windows as well as looking out of them. However, none of the theories offers an explanation for the dolls alleged ominous behaviour. More commenters would follow, some with a terse apology, others with both explanations and pleas that the cursed doll not turn its fabricated eyes toward them or their loved ones. Others note that this Internet version of the curse has happened before. An aunt who lived with the Ottos was worried about all of the chaos Robert the Doll was causing. I was so honored and surprised. His only comfort was a small stuffed animal, inferior to himself, but company nonetheless. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Nonetheless, Robert was taken in by the Otto family and became little Gene Ottos best friend. The servant was immediately fired, but not before she gave a lifelike doll to the young son of the family, Robert. Then upon their return the following morning all the lights will be back on, with the doll in a different position than where he was left. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. No one believed the kid until the family, too, started experiencing unexplained events around the home. The doll was reportedly made by the Steiff Company of Germany, purchased by Ottos grandfather during a trip to Germany in 1904, and given to young Otto as a birthday present. In a #SorryRobert Twitter version of "The Ring" the movie about a cursed videotape that. Robert is a creepy looking doll. Its a fair bet, a cursed dolls version of Pascals wager. They didn't think much of it, though, chalking it up to the child's overactive imagination. According to local folklore, the doll has caused "car accidents, broken bones, job loss, divorce and a cornucopia of other misfortunes", and museum visitors supposedly experience "post-visit misfortunes" for "failing to respect Robert". In 2015 a horror movie franchise was launched based on Robert. In the past, Roberts curse was reserved just for rude photographers who didnt ask permission before snapping his picture. The couple returned to the Otto family home in Key West to live there until Otto died in 1974. This, if you dont know, is the strange story of a seemingly ordinary doll that allegedly has a mysterious curse. Even today, misfortune allegedly befalls all those who insult him. But the doll held an ominous secret that would reveal itself in time. And young Otto would cry: Robert did it!. But what happens if he doesnt believe youre actually sorry? His What in the World! podcast is a fun look at the latest weird and paranormal news, strange sports stories and odd trivia. Was it the imagination of the Ottos? One day the father of the family supposedly caught a Haitian servant of theirs practicing black magic in the backyard. The first comment on my article apologizing to Robert, from nothing more than reading about him online, was posted on February 21, 2015 with a very simple Im sorry Robert.. He has a brown face with prickly holes, cold Black eyes and a creepy looking grin. After Robert Eugene Otto died in 1974, a woman named Myrtle Reuter purchased the Artist House, which meant Robert the Doll had a brand-new caretaker. When Gene moved back to his home in Florida, Robert was still there. Many people believed so. What does this mean for you dear reader? Anyone who visits Robert has to make sure that he/she doesnt disrespect or insult him in any way. All the 50 plus pictures that we had taken in Key West were suddenly gone. They claim that the straw-filled toy was given to young Otto by one of the familys young maids, who hexed it in retaliation for some wrongdoing. We know what this doll can do, but how did it all begin? Can a doll curse someone over the Internet? This, if you dont know, is the strange tale of a seemingly ordinary doll that allegedly holds a mysterious curse. Recommended Read: Possessing a non-memorable cinematic name (like . And, wouldnt you know it, when he came home from vacation he started hearing strange noises at night.. Others say that the doll was gifted to the child by a Voodoo practitioner who worked for his family, as retaliation for their wrongdoings. Robert the Doll is apparently cursing people left and right, and a new Twitter hashtag has emerged in the chaos. It seems everywhere that someone has posted about Robert the Doll, be it on personal websites or on YouTube, people can be found apologizing for looking at his pictures and doing even the tiniest of searches. We recommend you don't mess with Robert, just in case the rumors are true. Facebook user NG Elmer Mancia wrote on his page: Robert is cursed, so everyone who sees a picture of him may have a bad taste by tapping (accidentally) the picture or been saved. who managed to snap not one but three photos of Robert without asking permission. Rachel is not a professional writer but she is a passionate writer. He gets probably one to three letters every day, said Convertito. It was beige in colour and had human-like hair. He has large, beady black eyes and an eerie stone-cold expression. Mia And Sebastians Theme Piano Notes Letters Mia and Sebastian Sheet Music Nippon Egao Hyakkei Lyrics English Letters It is the title track of Turkish March Piano Letters From the third movement of Piano Sonata No. The neighbourhood children reported Robert mocking them from the window. Not exactly a pandemic, but enough to cause a visitor in 2009 to apologize to Robert. Do you believe an object can be cursed? That's right: #SorryRobert. This seemed totally normal until one day they heard a deep voice answering back. Currently displayed at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, visitors are welcome to stop by and catch a glimpse of the infamous doll. Visit and have fun, but be nice - or you'll find yourself writing an apology letter to a doll. Please forgive me. Ted, May 8 2017, Dear Robert, I visited you in key west. I snapped his picture, not once but three times All the 50 plus pictures that we had taken in Key West were suddenly gone. In 1930, Gene and his wife returned to Key West, where they settled into Gene's childhood home. The doll remained in the attic with every new owner of the house, but strange occurrences were frequent. In his right hand, he holds a toy of his own, a wide-eyed plush puppy, whose cheery expression makes Robert look all the more ominous. With Quinn Aune, Laura Baggett, Jeff Belanger, Jenna Sue Berry.