Charles E. Krosse Collection

Collection Items

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[Auto Racing]
Film
[Auto Racing]
1950
Snow Removal with Caterpillar Tractors
Film
Snow Removal with Caterpillar Tractors
1926
1920’s Film at Caterpillar Tractors
Film
1920s Film at Caterpillar Tractors
1920s
Meat for Health
Film
Meat for Health
circa 1923
[Keystone "Galvannealed" Square Deal Fence]
Film
[Keystone "Galvannealed" Square Deal Fence]
circa 1929
[Peoria Community Fund Campaign Film]
Film
[Peoria Community Fund Campaign Film]
1935
[Variety Show at Peoria's Palace Theater]
Film
[Variety Show at Peoria's Palace Theater]
circa 1934
Rheims
Film
Rheims
1921
A Citrate Special [Fragment]
Film
A Citrate Special [Fragment]
circa 1920
Home Keeping of Jim, The
Film
Home Keeping of Jim, The
circa 1920
[Snipe: Jitterbug Contest]
Film
[Snipe: Jitterbug Contest]
circa 1938
[Snipe: Sneak Preview of 'The Awful Truth']
Film
[Snipe: Sneak Preview of 'The Awful Truth']
1937
["Official Spanish Civil War Pictures" Trailer]
Film
["Official Spanish Civil War Pictures" Trailer]
circa 1936
[Snipe: Halloween Midnight Party]
Film
[Snipe: Halloween Midnight Party]
circa 1937
Why Your Dollar Buys Less
Film
Why Your Dollar Buys Less
1936
[Snipe: Air Conditioning]
Film
[Snipe: Air Conditioning]
circa 1932
[Allis-Chalmers Advertisement]
Film
[Allis-Chalmers Advertisement]
circa 1936
Paying the Piper
Film
Paying the Piper
circa 1936
[Snipe: Theatre Gift Coupon Books]
Film
[Snipe: Theatre Gift Coupon Books]
circa 1937
[Snipe: Performance of 'Pirate Gold']
Film
[Snipe: Performance of 'Pirate Gold']
1937
Milk, Butter and Cheese
Film
Milk, Butter and Cheese
1936
Pathe Topics of the Day / Leap Year
Film
Pathe Topics of the Day / Leap Year
1916
Keystone Barn Dance Party
Film
Keystone Barn Dance Party
circa 1942
[Screen Test]
Film
[Screen Test]
circa 1939
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To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
Collection Identifier
C.2006-10
Extent of Collection
61 reels of 16mm film totaling 21,740 feet; 59 reels of 35mm film totaling approximately 36,190 feet.
Language Of Materials
English
Custodial History
Carolyn Faber transported the films from Peoria, IL. They previously resided with Charles Krosse, who no longer had interest in the films. Krosse obtained the collection from C.L. Venard some time in the 1980s. Some nitrate in the collection was burned before arriving at CFA.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to on-site access. Appointments must be made with Chicago Film Archives. Due to the fragile nature of the films, only video copies will be provided for on-site viewing.
Use Restrictions
The Caterpillar Corp. owns rights to some of these films. Copyright is unknown on C.L. Venard films. CFA owns rights to the few home movies in the collection and to any films made before 1928.
Creators
Venard, C.L. (was created by)

Charles Lester Venard (1884-1981) worked as a photographer and filmmaker in southern Illinois from 1908 to 1970. His career spans the divide from the days of silent cinema to the introduction of videotape as a format for distributing educational films. His film company, C.L. Venard Productions, created and distributed a wide range of industrial and educational films, though by the end of his career his work focused on agricultural and farming subjects.

Born in Kansas, Venard started working at a photography studio at the age of 14. By 1908 he had moved to Peoria, Illinois where he set up his own photography studio, Venard Studio. After a brief move to Lincoln, Illinois from 1912 to 1917, Venard returned to Peoria. It was at this time that he appears to have transformed his business to include producing and distributing films. C.L. Venard Productions was a full service provider for southern Illinois.

Krosse, Charles (was created by)

Charles E. Krosse was born in Peoria, IL, on February 27, 1925. Krosse served in the Navy, and upon graduating from the University of Kansas, he worked in Marketing at Caterpillar for decades, retiring in 1986. He donated his collection of films from C.L. Venard Productions to CFA in 2006. Krosse passed away in 2016.