Theatre Architect Perry E. Crosier

posted by Michael Zoldessy on March 18, 2008 at 10:45 am

The following information about theatre architect Perry Crosier is indexed in the catalog at the University of Minnesota Libraries:
Crosier, Perry E., 1890-1953
Perry E. Crosier & Son
Architects — Minnesota
Motion picture theaters
http://special.lib.umn.edu./findaid/xml/naa121.xml

Between 1914 and 1916, Mr. Crosier had his own company of architects and contractors, the Crosier Construction Company. After the breakup of his company, Crosier continued to practice independently for most of his life. In 1921, he worked briefly with the architectural firm of Liebenberg & Kaplan and continued to collaborate with them, especially in the design of movie theaters throughout his career.

Some of the following theaters are listed on Cinema Treasures.

Perry Crosier is best known for his designs of movie theaters built throughout Minnesota in the 1930s and early 1940s. Those in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area include:
Avalon Theatre (1937)
St. Louis Park Theatre (1938)
Boulevard Twins Theatre (1939)
Hopkins Theatre (1941)
West Twins Theatre, West St. Paul

Those he is known to have designed in collaboration with Liebenberg & Kaplan are:
Westgate Theatre (1934) Edina, MN
Cinema Theatre, Detroit Lakes, MN
Princess Theatre, Wabasha, WI
Village Theatre, Faribault, MN (1944-1946)

Mr. Crosiers Master List of Commissions includes:
Avalon Theatre, 1937 1500-1506 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
Parkway Theatre, 1931 4812-14 Chicago Ave. So, Minneapolis
Princess Theatre, 1920, 1934 12 4th Street NE, Minneapolis

The Canby Theatre, Canby, MN was designed by Mr. Crosier. Perry Crosier is not presently named as architect on this website:
/theaters/10447

My father, William Flieder, built the new Canby Theatre which had its grand opening on November 15, 1939. I have my fathers personal papers regarding the theatre business in Canby, MN. Mr. Crosier is named in one of these papers. I also have a copy of THE CANBY NEWS dated Friday, November 10, 1939, with details about construction and a printing of Mr. Crosiers architectural drawing.

I am attaching a picture of the new Canby Theatre as it appeared in 1940.

Theaters in this post

• Canby Theatre