Haunted doll

For uses in fiction, see Killer toy.

Robert the doll

A haunted doll is a handmade or manufactured doll or stuffed toy that is claimed to be cursed or possessed in some way.

History

According to Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, the concept of malevolent dolls gained attention in the 20th century when film and entertainment technology was able to realistically portray "safely inanimate" dolls as "dangerously animate". McRobbie cites examples such as the 1936 film The Devil-Doll by Tod Browning, the Living Doll episode of the TV series Twilight Zone, the clown doll from the film Poltergeist, the Chucky doll featured in the Child's Play film franchise, as well as "B-movie variations on the homicidal doll theme" such as Dolly Dearest, Demonic Toys, and Blood Dolls. More recently, a character based on the doll named Annabelle owned by Ed and Lorraine Warren has been featured in The Conjuring series of films.^[1]

The popularity of films and entertainment about haunted dolls has resulted in the sale of dolls claimed to be haunted on eBay, Amazon, Etsy and many other sites. According to Katherine Carlson of The New Yorker, sales listings are often accompanied by claims of paranormal phenomena associated with the doll.^[2] Carlson wrote that such dolls bring with them a certain fascination that a regular doll does not, since "a haunted doll requires proof — or at least enough of a backstory that a prospective buyer can embrace the possibility of the supernatural".^[2]

According to folklore professor Libby Tucker, "Ghost tours, ads for haunted hotels, and other monetary transactions build on preexisting beliefs and narratives. The fact that people buy and sell ghostly materials takes nothing away from these materials’ value for folklore researchers, which is considerable".^[3]

Notable haunted dolls

A number of supposedly haunted dolls have appeared in popular culture in recent years.^[4]

Robert

Main article: Robert (doll)

Robert is a doll claimed to be possessed by spirits that is on display at the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, that was once owned by Key West painter and author Robert Eugene Otto.^[5][6]

Annabelle

Main article: Annabelle (doll)

Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann doll alleged by Ed and Lorraine Warren to be haunted^[7] and displayed in The Warren's Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, the United States. The doll served as the inspiration for the films The Conjuring and Annabelle.^[8]

Letta the Doll

Kerry Walton, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, has appeared on a number of television programs with a doll he claims to have found while visiting an abandoned building in 1972 in Wagga Wagga.^[9] According to Walton, he named the doll "Letta Me Out" because of its supposedly supernatural characteristics. Walton claims that people have seen the doll move in front of them, and that the doll has left visible scuff marks around the house.^[10]

Okiku

According to modern Japanese folklore, in 1918, a teenager named Eikichi Suzuki purchased a large doll from Hokkaido for his younger sister, Okiku, who gave the doll her name. When Okiku died, her family came to believe that Okiku's spirit was inhabiting the doll and the hair on the doll was growing. The doll resides in Mannenji Temple in Hokkaido, where it is claimed that a priest regularly trims Okiku's still-growing hair.^[11]

Mandy

Made in England or Germany between 1910 and 1920, Mandy is a porcelain baby doll donated to the Quesnel Museum in British Columbia in 1991 that is claimed to have supernatural powers: Mandy's eyes supposedly follow museum visitors. The doll has been featured on the Montel Williams Show.^[12]

Pulau Ubin Barbie

According to Singapore legend, Pulau Ubin Barbie is a Barbie doll displayed in a memorial temple said to have supernatural powers.^[13]

'After Midnight' dolls

Late night comedy panel show After Midnight features a haunted doll as a recurring prize.^[14]

See also

• Killer toy
• Voodoo doll

References

1. McRobbie, Linda Rodriguez. "The History of Creepy Dolls". Smithsonian. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
2. Carlson, Katherine (31 October 2017). "On eBay, a Fantastical, Earnest World of Haunted Dolls". The New Yorker. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
3. Tucker, Libby (Fall 2009). "Tiny Feet on the Stairs". Schenectady. 35 (3/4): 22 – via ProQuest.
4. June Pulliam; Anthony Fonseca (26 September 2016). Ghosts in Popular Culture and Legend. ABC-CLIO. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-1-4408-3491-2.
5. Schensul, Jill (12 January 2014). "Schensul: If you go to Key West, Fla., beware of Robert the Doll". NorthJersey.com.
6. Ella Morton (18 November 2013). "Robert the Haunted Doll: Creeping Out Floridians Since 1904". Slate.com.
7. Nancy Lynch (28 October 2014). "The story behind the 'evil' and 'dangerous' Annabelle doll". AOL.
8. Rebecka Schumann (2 October 2014). "'Annabelle' True Story: 9 Freaky Facts About The Real Doll Haunting Ahead Of Movie Release". International Business Times.
9. Harris, Meghan. "Mystery surrounds 200-year-old 'haunted doll from hell'". Chronicle. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
10. "Meet 'Letta Me Out', An Extremely Haunted 200 Year Old Doll From Wagga". Pedestrian TV. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
11. Catrien Ross (30 August 2011). Japanese Ghost Stories: Spirits, Hauntings, and Paranormal Phenomena. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 82–. ISBN 978-1-4629-0100-5.
12. "Canada Is Home To One Of The World's Most Famous Haunted Dolls". HuffPost Canada. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
13. "Worshippers offer cosmetics to Barbie doll at Pulau Ubin temple". AsiaOne. Singapore Press Holdings. 29 March 2013. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
14. "Taylor Tomlinson is riding high with a new Netflix special and a late-night TV show". www.npr.org. National Public Radio, Morning Edition. Retrieved 24 May 2024.

External links

• An Examination of Ancient Greek and Roman Witches throughout Literature
• History of Bocio Dolls Archived 25 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine