Joseph DuciBella
Encyclopedia
Joseph R. DuciBella, A.S.I.D., (April 17, 1945 – June 29, 2007) was an interior designer, founding member of the Theatre Historical Society of America
(1969), author, and noted architectural historian.
Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, his interest in theatres began as he watched the demolition of the Paradise Theatre. This allowed him to observe how large theatres were constructed and led to his desire to be an architect. Later he studied under the noted architect Mies Van Der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology
. Eventually decided to pursue interior design instead of architecture. He graduated from the Chicago Academy of Fine Art with degrees in Interior Design. He went on to become an interior designer (residential, commercial, and theatrical) and had his own design firm for more than a 25 years.
He was widely known as an important American theatre historian and published several books both here and in Europe. His Theatres of Chicago (1973) is still one of the only comprehensive books on the theatres of Chicago. He also penned many articles for the publications of the Theatre Historical Society of America, Marquee and Annual, covering a range of topics. He also wrote the foreword for the book The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban & Katz (2006). His final book, The Theatres of Chicago: The Complete Illustrated History, is due to be published in 2008 and covers the history of nearly all the theatres in Chicago from the 1840s to the present.
He was a member of many organizations, including the American Theatre Organ Society, The Organ Historical Society, Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts, the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ and many more. He received honors, commendations and awards from in the Interior Design and Theatre History fields. He also was one of Chicago's most respected architectural historians and led many city tours of Chicago's legendary architecture and was a leading figure in the preservation. He fought to save such important buildings as the Chicago Theatre
, the Congress Theater
, and many others, including the Uptown Theatre
, a movie palace still in need of a renovation plan. He also worked to have the Chicago Wicker Park
neighborhood designated a Chicago Landmark District. He appears in the documentary: Uptown: Portrait of a Palace.
He died peacefully at home following a long fight with cancer on June 29, 2007.
Theatre Historical Society of America
The Theatre Historical Society of America is an IRS-approved 501 non-profit educational organization, located in Elmhurst, Illinois on the second floor of Classic Cinemas historic York Theater....
(1969), author, and noted architectural historian.
Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, his interest in theatres began as he watched the demolition of the Paradise Theatre. This allowed him to observe how large theatres were constructed and led to his desire to be an architect. Later he studied under the noted architect Mies Van Der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
. Eventually decided to pursue interior design instead of architecture. He graduated from the Chicago Academy of Fine Art with degrees in Interior Design. He went on to become an interior designer (residential, commercial, and theatrical) and had his own design firm for more than a 25 years.
He was widely known as an important American theatre historian and published several books both here and in Europe. His Theatres of Chicago (1973) is still one of the only comprehensive books on the theatres of Chicago. He also penned many articles for the publications of the Theatre Historical Society of America, Marquee and Annual, covering a range of topics. He also wrote the foreword for the book The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban & Katz (2006). His final book, The Theatres of Chicago: The Complete Illustrated History, is due to be published in 2008 and covers the history of nearly all the theatres in Chicago from the 1840s to the present.
He was a member of many organizations, including the American Theatre Organ Society, The Organ Historical Society, Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts, the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ and many more. He received honors, commendations and awards from in the Interior Design and Theatre History fields. He also was one of Chicago's most respected architectural historians and led many city tours of Chicago's legendary architecture and was a leading figure in the preservation. He fought to save such important buildings as the Chicago Theatre
Chicago Theatre
The Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theater located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the flagship for the Balaban and Katz group of theaters run by A. J. Balaban, his brother...
, the Congress Theater
Congress Theater
The Congress Theater in Chicago, built by Fridstein and Company in 1926 for the movie theater chain of Lubliner and Trinz, is a surviving example of a movie palace. It features ornate exterior and interior design work, in a combination of the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance styles.The...
, and many others, including the Uptown Theatre
Uptown Theatre (Chicago)
The Uptown Theatre, also known as the Balaban and Katz Uptown Theatre, is a massive, ornate movie palace in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Designed by Rapp and Rapp and constructed in 1925, it the last of the "big three" movie palaces built by the Balaban & Katz theatre chain run by...
, a movie palace still in need of a renovation plan. He also worked to have the Chicago Wicker Park
Wicker Park, Chicago
Wicker Park is a Chicago neighborhood northwest of the Loop, south of Bucktown and west of Pulaski Park within West Town. Charles and Joel Wicker purchased of land along Milwaukee Avenue in 1870 and laid out a subdivision with a mix of lot sizes surrounding a park...
neighborhood designated a Chicago Landmark District. He appears in the documentary: Uptown: Portrait of a Palace.
He died peacefully at home following a long fight with cancer on June 29, 2007.