Quote from Angela on March 22, 2021, 5:21 pm

What is it about dolls that we find so creepy? Dolls have been part of human play for thousands of years bringing comfort through interaction, soothing emotions, but also many people suffer a very real fear of dolls, especially of the ventriloquist kind.

They 'look' human but you know they're not. Psychologists state the threat comes in when we visually recognise traits such as eyes looking so convincingly real that our brain registers it as a potential 'threat' and our defence/survival mode kicks in.

Could it be the coldness of the porcelain faces, the vague expression, their seemingly real life eyes? Or is it something more sinister like 'maybe they might come to life'?

It is widely believed that dolls can be receptive channels for demonic possessions. There is actually a genuine condition due to fearing dolls called 'pediophobia'.

Amidst the serene residential town of Vent Haven in Kentucky is the Vent Haven Museum. The worlds only exclusive ventriloquist museum. 

Established by William Shakespeare Berger, an avid amateur ventriloquist. There are over 900 ventriloquist models held in this building, the largest collection anywhere in the world!

Burger started his collection as a child, storing the creepy dummies in his home garage. However once he had surpassed the 500 mark, thought he better open an allocated museum!

Many visitors can't even manage the doll room and have reported feeling extremely uncomfortable stating 'those dolls have eyes which follow as you walk by'. However, this would rationally be deemed impossible as the dolls are mechanically operated by hand of course. Ohers have reported unexplained mists and eery shadow figures as if walking in the background behind the dolls. 

Are these dolls really vacant or is there something more sinister going on once darkness falls? Could these dolls be retaining negative energies? How can objects so seemingly harmless instil such fear?

What do you think. Have you ever had a doll you had to look twice at, just to check they weren't moving?

Now owned by Lisa Swezey, Curator, who runs the place as a non profit exhibition centre. Viewing is by appointment only so why not check it out and share your experiences below.