Following the stormy yet ultimately successful establishment of a Theosophist's community at Point Loma in San Diego, Albert P. Warrington spied a little slice of heaven in Hollywood just west of Beachwood Canyon and a long block north of Franklin. He called it Krotona. Much of it is still there.
clausens-ranch-4 circa1895
Clausen's ranch including Krotona hill.
krotonamap
Apparently, in the Theosophist's view, elevation is an important consideration. image from underthehollywoodsign.files.wordpress.com
Krotona Court, with the completed Temple of the Rosy Cross to the southwest
Krotona Court, with the completed Temple of the Rosy Cross to the southeast.
2130 Vista del Mar. These buildings have all been converted into apartments with balconies added to the north face of the 'Temple'. image from A SURVEY OF SURVIVING BUILDINGS OF
THE KROTONA COLONY IN HOLLYWOOD at Architronic
Krotonans sit in rapt attention
An early audience thought to be listening to Augustus Knudsen.Interesting in that it is clearly a largely female, multi-cultural and multi-racial group. About 1913. image from A SURVEY OF SURVIVING BUILDINGS OF
THE KROTONA COLONY IN HOLLYWOOD at Architronic
Knudsen File
Mr and Mrs. A. F. Knudsen, 2117 Vista del Mar Av, Hollywood..Stamped: Mead & Requa Architects, 533 F. St. San Francisco, Calif. image from underthehollywoodsign
P3250.239 Knudsen AFK
Augustus Knudsen at the rear of his house. image from underthehollywoodsign
H.H.Shutts house, 2136 Primrose Avenue
One of the remaining original Krotona villas. image from A SURVEY OF SURVIVING BUILDINGS OF THE KROTONA COLONY IN HOLLYWOOD at Architronics
Krotona 1919, 6206 Temple Hill Drive
6206 Temple Hill Drive, private residence, mature plantings make it difficult to see from the street.
Krotona Inn and Grand Temple of the Rosy Cross circa1914
2130 Vista del Mar, both buildings have been converted to apartments with balconies added to the north face of the 'Grand Temple'. image from A SURVEY OF SURVIVING BUILDINGS OF THE KROTONA COLONY IN HOLLYWOOD at Architronics
krotona inn
Krotona Inn, interior courtyard arcade with batchelder tiles throughout.
Moorcrest, 6147 Temple Hill Drive
First occupied by Charlie Chaplin and then by Mary Astor and her parents. image from A SURVEY OF SURVIVING BUILDINGS OF
THE KROTONA COLONY IN HOLLYWOOD at Architronics
Mary Astor relaxes with script
Mary Astor relaxes with script
a script?
christine-wetherill-stevenson-1921
Christine Wetherill Stevenson lived and studied at Krotona. She was a central figure in establishing the Hollywood Bowl and subsequently the Pilgimage Play Theater, now the John Anson Ford Theater.
image from hollywoodbowl.com
Italian Gardens at Krotona