Marie Russak facts for kids
Marie Russak (October 7, 1865 – March 4, 1945), also known as Marie Hotchener or Marie Barnard, was an American opera singer and architect. She was also very interested in a spiritual philosophy called Theosophy.
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Early Life and Music
Marie Russak was born on October 7, 1865, in Four Corners, a small town in Butte County, California. She loved music and studied it at Mills College in Oakland. Marie became a famous opera singer and performed in many cities across Europe. In 1899, she married Frank Russak, who produced operas. They moved to Paris, France, in 1901.
Spiritual Journey and Theosophy
Marie became very interested in Theosophy, a spiritual movement that explores wisdom from different religions and philosophies. She joined the Theosophical Society and became very active in it.
Time in India
Between 1906 and 1910, Marie lived in Adyar, India. There, she learned even more about Theosophy and other spiritual ideas. She also took part in a group called Co-Masonry. In 1912, she helped start a new group called the Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross with Annie Besant. Marie worked closely with this group, which was linked to the Rosicrucians, until it ended in 1918.
Krotona Colony and AMORC
After leaving India in 1912, Marie helped create the Krotona Colony in California. This was a special community for people interested in Theosophy. Marie played a big part in building Krotona. She designed several houses for Theosophists, including a well-known house at 6106 Temple Hill Drive.
Marie continued her work with the Theosophical Society. In California, she met Harvey Spencer Lewis, who had started a group called AMORC in 1915. Marie shared a lot of her spiritual knowledge with him. She also helped create some of AMORC's rituals, which were similar to those from her earlier group, the Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross.
Architectural Designs
Marie Russak was also a talented architect. You can still see some of her buildings in Krotona, California. Her designs often used styles like Moorish and Mission architecture.
Moorcrest House
One of her most famous buildings is Moorcrest, likely finished in 1921. This unique house was once rented by the famous actor Charlie Chaplin. Later, in 1925, it was sold to the parents of actress Mary Astor. Moorcrest became run down over time, but it was bought in the early 2000s and fully renovated. In 2014, the musicians Joanna Newsom and Andy Samberg bought the house.
Personal Life
Marie Russak was born Mary Ellen Barnard. Her father was Judge Allyn Matther Barnard. She later used the stage name Marie Ellene Barna. She was married three times:
- First, to Justin Harvey Smith, an author, in 1892. They divorced in 1895.
- Second, to Frank Russak, in 1899. He passed away in 1914.
- Third, to Henry Hotchener, in 1916.
Marie Russak died on March 4, 1945, in Hollywood, California.
See also
In Spanish: Marie Russak para niños
