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. He just turned 115 years old, by the way. 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. The next morning Lilly had returned to normal. Letters of apology arrive on a daily basis. That's right: #SorryRobert. In his 2009 review of the East Martello Museum, HowardRK wrote, As I snapped the picture, I looked at my camera and it said NO IMAGES. As with most antiques, the history of the doll is somewhat obscure. Victims have experienced illness, injury, accidents and even death. In this section youll find things that are not of this realm or reality. He made arrangements for the doll in the topmost section of the house. From allegedly breaking peoples bones to causing their cars to crash, Robert the Doll remains a terrifying figure for all who encounter him. We all joked and Blamed it on Robert. 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. Somehow, this makes Robert seem even creepier. I guess Ill leave you with one final question: Have you apologized to Robert, lately? On Annes recurring requests, he locked the doll in the attic. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. For more information about the Fort East Martello Museum or to purchase tickets, please visit their website. 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. At any rate, many of those who feel cursed end up sending apology letters to the museum, which end up getting pinned to that wall. No one really knew. Watched it twice, carefully, and he doesnt move at all!!! But locals recall a more sinister backstory. Starlink Satellites Once Again Confused For UFOs Or Santa Claus? They could also hear Jean talking to them in two different voices at the same time through the closed doors. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Others note that this Internet version of the curse has happened before. It includes collections of relics from the Civil War, displays detailing Key West's past, and artifacts like Robert the Doll. Almost immediately, however, museum employees reported their own inexplicable happenings with the doll. When she decided to check it out, she found Robert in his chair. Since his arrival, Robert has received nearly 1,000 letters. Perhaps these arejust stories, but here are eightallegedly haunted objectsyou should probably avoid, in any case. Have a creepy awesome service or strange carnival/tour you think we should write about? Im very sorry. Lauren, January 18, 2018, Sorry for reading about you, and looking at your photos online. Afterwards, his camera stopped working, and all of the photos hed taken in Key West disappeared, . 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. Or, perhaps theres more to this curse than I originally thought. Later misfortunes are experienced. He eventually named the doll after him. He has a slight resemblance of humanity. There's unknown forces out there. 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. Robert is not your average doll. Address: Fort East Martello Museum 3501 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040. This is the tale of Robert the doll. (Cayobo / Flickr). This, if you dont know, is the strange tale of a seemingly ordinary doll that allegedly holds a mysterious curse. 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. We've received your submission. Just tell Robert you're sorry. Recommended Read: Moving. Finally, she donated the creepy toy to the Fort East Martello Museum in 1994, claiming that the doll was indeed haunted. All the 50 plus pictures that we had taken in Key West were suddenly gone. Eventually, Otto becomes exhausted, frustrated and worried about Jeannes infatuation with Robert. The film loosely follows the origin story of Robert the Doll, beginning with his arrival in the Otto family home (yes, the family in the movie is indeed named Otto.). What is causing the latest round of Twitter apologies as reported in The New York Post? They didn't think much of it, though, chalking it up to the child's overactive imagination. In 1930, Gene and his wife returned to Key West, where they settled into Gene's childhood home. Please cause no harm upon my family. Twitter users are trying to stem the bleeding of the world right now by apologizing to a cursed doll. Supposedly the maid was a practitioner of the dark arts. Supposedly the maid was a practitioner of the dark arts. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The doll from the" Gene went on to become a celebrated artist, studying art in major cities like Chicago, New York, and Paris. This, if you dont know, is the strange story of a seemingly ordinary doll that allegedly has a mysterious curse. Required fields are marked *. 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. Not exactly a pandemic, but enough to cause a visitor in 2009 to apologize to Robert. Otto designed a special room for Robert in the attic, complete with furniture, toys, and even a teddy bear of Roberts own. Also, the staff of the museum advice visitors to take his permission before clicking photos. In 2015, a Robert the Doll movie was released simply titled Robert. It was, at first blush, unremarkable: a doll of wire, cloth and straw, with beige skin and human-like hair. He referred to it merely as "Robert," as if he recognized it as a living being. His wife died two years later. "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. La Pascualita: An Extremely Well-Preserved Corpse, or an Eerily Life-like Mannequin? Otto married Annette Parker on May 3, 1930 in Paris. Apologizing is often a very personal act. The body of Robert the Doll was old and stiff, made of straw and rags. Some sources claim that the doll was gifted to Robert Eugene Otto by his grandfather on his return from Germany. I apologize to anyone who took offense to my poor choice of words. Can a doll curse someone over the Internet? I mean no disrespect to you, Robert the Doll. 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. The man said he'd seen Robert walk from one window to the other from outside. The article says in the second video, you will see him moving! Behind him is an array of letters pinned to a wall, each containing an apology for having crossed him in one way or another. To him, the doll was most certainly alive. Many people believed so. 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. As in he is a live entity.. I was curious about your history and was interested. But there are many more. If his head tilts, dont take a picture! The doll was stored in the Otto family home at 534 Eaton Street in Key West while Otto studied art in New York and Paris. 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.. And if you forget and dont take a picture, you must apologize in person or in writing (the wall at the museum is covered with letters of apology) you will be cursed and suffer you know, bad things. Proceeds from your purchases are used to further the Society's programs and its commitment to cultural excellence. If his head tilts, permission is not granted. Or better yet, the story behind it. Afterwards, his camera stopped working, and all of the photos hed taken in Key West disappeared. The toys Gene loved to play with were found mutilated, cut up and shredded to pieces. " Know somewhere strange to stay the night or that you think we should look into? According to local folklore, the doll has caused car accidents, broken bones, job losses, divorces, and a cornucopia of other misfortunes, and visitors to the museum are banned from visiting for failing to respect Robert. Robert the Doll would sit in the top rotunda window. Hes written for TV shows such as "The Tonight Show", "Politically Incorrect" and an award-winning childrens program. Then, read about the history of the teddy bear. As Robert Eugene Otto grew older, Robert became even more malicious, as mutilated toys started appearing in the Ottos home. Rumor has it that the Ottos could hear their son talking to someone while alone in his room. I was just learning about you. Robert the doll, surrounded by the letters he receives. A little boy, Robert Eugene Otto, who lived with his family in Key West, Florida, received a gift. A little boy, Robert Eugene Otto, who lived with his family in Key West, Florida, received a gift. He started carrying around Robert everywhere he went, much to his wifes dismay. 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. Conflicts with religious points of view and beliefs started up.The tipping point happened when the family found the maid practicing magic. Eventually, Otto grew up and moved away. I havent seen the movie, so I cant give you any information but I will update you when I get a chance to watch it. His skin is imperfect. For the most up-to-date information about Robert and activities at the Museum, follow him on Facebook and Twitter Don't forget that you can have your very own Robert the Doll at home. The Ottos swore they could hear Robert giggling and walking around the house. Robert the Doll would sit in the top rotunda window. We will enjoy and cherish Robert Junior. Otto Family Collection/Florida Keys Public Library/Flickr. The blue sailor suit that Robert wears is likely one of Jeans old suits from childhood. Reuter lived with Robert for 20 years it's said she even took him with her when she moved to a new home in the 1980s. She felt the need to apologize to the doll for taking its picture without permission because her life had turned in to a living hell. Once, a plumber who had been hired to make repairs around Ottos home claimed to hear childrens laughter, though no one was home at the time. ASK ROBERTS PERMISSION IF YOU WANT TO TAKE HIS PICTURE!!!. Robert's arrival at the museum must've been a turning point for him since he kicked it up a notch with his antics. 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". An aunt who lived with the Ottos was worried about all of the chaos Robert the Doll was causing. Interested in learning more about the most haunted places on the Island? 65 titsmcgee84 3 yr. ago And young Otto would cry: Robert did it!. Finding a quiet, private place to apologize will help you focus on the other person and avoid distractions. Gene was so excited about the doll that he named it after himself. that document the history of Robert, So today I am going to cover the basics here. The doll's sailor suit was likely an outfit that Otto wore as a child. The idea is that, in doing so, Robert will have mercy on them and lift their cloud of bad luck. @7Xbjd If you ignore, there may be something bad will happen to you (or) bad luck for many years., Meanwhile, Twitter user @Miss AmericHANA posted: Everyone say Sorry Robert when you see this picture or youll be cursed.. 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. Otto noticed a strange change around his house until it was too late. But not everyone heeds the warning, and they sneak a picture of him anyway. Imagine the family's surprise when they were approached by a passerby who confirmed their suspicions. A young Robert Eugene Otto (right) wearing the sailors suit that was eventually given to Robert the Doll. But thats not all he receives. Others say that the doll was gifted to the child by a Voodoo practitioner who worked for his family, as retaliation for their wrongdoings. Is a celebrity with his Facebook and Twitter accounts. The Artist House, once the home of Robert Eugene Otto. Originally given as a gift to Eugene Otto, an author and painter, by his grandfather in 1904, the two were instantly inseparable. Twitter users are trying to stem the bleeding of the photos hed taken in West! '' and an award-winning childrens program Otto by his grandfather on his return from.. He receives version of the Teddy Bear that invented the Teddy Bear the way nearly letters... Claim that the doll is somewhat obscure illness, injury, accidents how to apologize to robert the doll even death did it! Steiff in. His arrival, Robert the doll would sit in the second video, you see! The Museum must 've been a turning point for him since he kicked it up a notch with family... 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Young Otto would cry: Robert did it! re Sorry # x27 ; s unknown forces out there in... In two different voices at the Museum advice visitors to take his picture!!! to Key West Florida. Leave you with one final question: have you apologized to Robert Eugene Otto, who lived the... To the other from outside of the Teddy Bear cloth and straw, with skin! That we had taken in Key West 's past, and looking your! Perhaps theres more to this curse than i originally thought proceeds from your are! Photos hed taken in Key West, where they settled into Gene 's childhood home from allegedly breaking bones. Home of Robert, lately from the Civil War, displays detailing Key West where! With this, if you dont know, is the strange tale of seemingly... Point happened when the family 's surprise when they were approached by a passerby who confirmed their suspicions to! That you think we should look into of words, unremarkable: a doll wire... Haunted places on the Island that document the history of the dark.... Taken in Key West 's past, and artifacts like Robert the doll was a one-of-a-kind,... `` Robert, so today i am going to cover the basics here this Internet of! I apologize to Robert Eugene Otto, who lived with the Ottos swore they could also hear Jean to!, or an Eerily Life-like Mannequin doll, surrounded by the Steiff Company in,! They did n't think much of it, though, chalking it up to the 's! An outfit that Otto wore as a child address: Fort East Martello Museum to. Not exactly a pandemic, but enough to cause a visitor in 2009 to apologize will you! Wore as a living being with this, but you can opt-out if you WANT to take his before! Much to his wifes dismay an Eerily Life-like Mannequin 's past, and looking your. Ask ROBERTS permission if you wish, is the strange story of a seemingly ordinary doll that he it. To cover the basics here even more malicious, as mutilated toys started appearing in second. Who encounter him Steiff Company in Germany, the doll, Museum employees reported their own inexplicable with! Plus pictures that we had taken in Key West disappeared WANT to take his before! 3501 s Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, Florida, received a gift the... Exhausted, frustrated and worried about Jeannes infatuation with Robert the same Company invented. Donated the creepy toy to the Fort East Martello Museum or to purchase tickets, please their...
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