Press release

BLAME IT ON ROBERT -
A NIGHT OF 101 HAUNTINGS, SCARES AND SCREAMS

by Michael Haskins

An eerie, straw-stuffed doll that has mystified Key Westers for a century, as well as visitors form all around the world, will, for the brave of heart, preside over Fantasy Fest 2005’s “Blame it on Robert - A Night of 101 Hauntings.”
The alleged powers of Robert the haunted doll will take center stage during “A Night of 101 Hauntings,” 7:30-11 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 23, in the gardens of Robert’s home – Fort East Martello Gardens on South Roosevelt Boulevard. This October marks Robert’s second century and he is being thrown a deserving party.
A new and special exhibit for the night of hauntings will be the unveiling of Count Von Cossel’s beloved Elena. The ghoulish Original Ghost Tours staff will host Tours of the fort during the mystical evening and explain the frightening tale of the count and his fascination with Elena in both life and death.
The Key West Firefighter’s Local 1424, masters of smoke and heat, will spend the day at East Martello roasting several pigs in the traditional Cuban method, in a Chinese box.
“The pigs go on the rack, then are covered with the metal box and then the hot coals are placed on top,” said Union President Arnold Cabellero.
On the milder side, Antonia’s Catering will be serving up accompanying dishes of black beans, rice, and rum-glazed sweet plantains.
“We’ve planned a haunting evening that will included frenzied island dancing, frozen tropical drinks and a Fantasy Fest costume contest,” said Claudia Pennington, CEO of the Key West Arts and Historical Society.
“This is an early Fantasy Fest event,” Pennington said, “and locals usually take advantage of the evening with Robert. If you have a costume, it’s a great time to give it a test drive and celebrate with friends before our guests from the mainland arrive.”
Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley is slated to proclaim Oct. 23 as “Robert the Enchanted Doll Day,” celebrating Robert’s 101 birthday.
The event is sponsored by at Century 21 Prestige Realty Group, and benefits both Easter Seals Keys Region and the Key West Arts and Historical Society, so prices have been kept reasonable and are tax deductible.
General admission, in advance, is $35 and $40 at the door.
VIP tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door. VIP ticket holders will be treated to a hosted bar all evening.
Tickets are on sale and information is available by calling Jake Stanton at Century 21 Prestige Realty Group, 294-6637, or e-mail Jake_Stanton@earthlink.net.

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HOW ROBERT CAME TO BE

Robert is a cloth-covered doll about three feet tall and was made by a Haitian girl in 1903 as a representation of young Robert “Gene” Otto. This was normal, according to local custom at the turn of the century. Whether the doll possessed any island voodoo is a question, but during that era, some Key West residents practiced a peculiar hybrid religion that partook of both Catholicism and voodoo.
Otto, the scion of a well-to-do Key West family, loved the doll but blamed it for all his misdeeds and any ill luck that befell him.
By the time Otto achieved success as an artist, Robert’s reputation was well known and he had taken the blame for a lifetime of sin and folly.
“There are literally hundreds of unexplainable events over the years, with which Robert has assumed a mysterious and powerful presence,” said Norman Aberle, curator of KWAHS. “For instance, what happened to the camera being use by the film crew who came to the East Martello to shoot footage for a ghost documentary?”
Many of the details of the strange goings-on associated with Robert will be part of the exhibit along with some other memorabilia and a portion of the mail he has received over the years.

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