In his glass case at the East Martello, Robert, the Enchanted Doll, is an eerie presence with an image of the old Artists House reflecting in the background.
from the KEY WEST ART & HISTORICAL SOCIETY 281 FRONT STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 295-6616 Fax: 295-6649
Attention: News editors, news directors, features editors and programming directors. Please use the following item as a news story, public service announcement or community event. Pix available. For immediate release Oct. 11, 2004.
Although he's not flesh and blood, Robert, the Enchanted Doll, has been one of Key West's most popular and influential residents for the past century. At the Oct. 19 Tuesday night City Commission meeting, Mayor Jimmy Weekley is scheduled to proclaim that Oct. 24 be recognized as "Robert the Enchanted Doll Day" in Key West, celebrating the mysterious straw-stuffed character's 100th birthday. Robert the Enchanted Doll Day will coincide with the official opening event of Fantasy Fest 2004, entitled Blame It On Robert, "A Night of Voodoo Vibes and Caribbean Karma" Sunday, Oct. 24, from 7:30 to11 p.m. in the gardens of Robert's home at Fort East Martello. The celebration is especially directed to locals before the madness of Fantasy Fest ensues. In his proclamation, Mayor Weekley is expected to state "the people of Key West long have owed a deep debt of gratitude to Robert The Enchanted Doll for shouldering responsibility for much of the city's psychic mischief and that Robert has borne the blame for all manner of eerie and unexplainable phenomena around him." Originally given in the early 20th Century to the five-year-old Robert 'Gene" Otto, a scion of an old Key West family, Robert resided in the house at 534 Eaton Street, now the Artists Guest house, where he peered out from the third floor window. The doll was blamed for all of Gene Otto' s indiscretions as well as other strange occurrences in his vicinity even after Otto died in 1974. Over the years there have been literally hundreds of unexplainable events, with which Robert has assumed a mysterious and powerful presence. For the past decade Robert has lived in a glass display case at the East Martello where he is the island's most popular embodiment of spectral lore and where he continues to wreak ghostly havoc. Along with the Blame It on Robert party, Robert will have a new exhibition at the East Martello Museum, said John Giuliano, director of development for the Key West Art & Historical Society, which operates the fort as well as the Key West Lighthouse Museum and the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House. "We fully expect Robert will be present at the beginning of the city commission meeting to accept the proclamation," Giuliano added. "And we trust he will refrain from any civic mischief during the session. "For the Oct. 24 party at the East Martello, we've planned some frenzied island dancing with popular deejay Rude Girl, frozen drinks, a pig roast prepared by the firefighters, and a Fantasy Fest costume contest emceed by Tom Luna. Plus, magicians, fortunetellers, and other surprises," Giuliano said. Sponsored by Century 21 Keysearch Realty with additional support thus far from Fat Tuesday's, the Key West Fire Department, Waste Management and The Dance Factory, Blame It On Robert will benefit Easter Seals Florida/Key region and the Key West Art & Historical Society. General admission tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door and include one free drink and the Caribbean buffet. VIP tickets are $75 each in advance ($100 at the door) and include reserved parking, an open bar, a free commemorative glass, special table seating and private buffet service. Tickets and information for Blame It On Robert is available on line at KWAHS.com or by contacting Century 21 Keysearch Realty at 305-294-6637 or Jake_Stanton@earthlink.net
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SPECIAL NOTE TO EDITORS: The press is invited to cover the presentation of the mayoral proclamation, but should be aware that there is a record of quirky things that seem to happen when he is photographed and filmed.
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| In his glass case at the East Martello, Robert, the Enchanted Doll, is an eerie presence with an image of the old Artists House reflecting in the background. |