The American Film Institute Showcase — Former Show · History & Timeline

Former Show · the memorial record

⚰ Permanently closed · Aug 17, 2014operated 18 years · 1996–2014

This show is gone, but its history stays documented — the full lifetime log is below.

Show history

the lifetime record

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2014

UpdateSep 29, 2014#

After the Studio Backlot Tour closed, the Frozen-themed Wandering Oaken's Trading Post moved out of Soundstage 1 and into the vacated showcase building at the tour's former exit.

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◆ Latest milestone

RefurbishmentAug 17, 2014#

The American Film Institute Showcase and its adjoining shop closed permanently after operating for the last time on Sunday, August 17, 2014, with "The Best in Film: AFI's 100 Years, 100 Movies" as the final exhibit.

Attractions Magazine, published that day, said the showcase and gift shop "located at the end of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be closing for good after today, Aug. 17, 2014." LaughingPlace's August 21 retrospective reports it had closed and names the final exhibit. Wikipedia's Studio Backlot Tour article corroborates the month - "The exhibit and store were closed in August 2014, a month prior to the attraction's closure" - the tour itself closing September 27, 2014.

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Coming SoonAug 14, 2014#

Disney confirmed that the showcase and its adjoining shop would close on August 17, 2014, and that the collectible merchandise would not be relocated elsewhere in the park.

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2013

Changed2013#

The showcase's adjoining shop took on the collectible movie props and autographed memorabilia previously sold at Sid Cahuenga's near the park entrance.

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1996

New1996#

A small gallery of props and costumes from Disney films opened at the exit of the Studio Backlot Tour, the space that later operated as The American Film Institute Showcase.

LaughingPlace's retrospective opens: "A mainstay of Disney's Hollywood Studios since 1996 the American Film Institute Showcase has closed it's doors. What started as a small area for Disney to showcase props and costumes from some of their films in 1996 was expanded to focus on pieces of movie history the AFI choose as worthy to be showcased." It is the only source giving a year, and it dates the gallery rather than the AFI branding, so the beat is written as the gallery opening. Wikipedia describes the exit as a walk-through "American Film Institute museum exhibit based on AFI's 50 Greatest Villains," which points to AFI-branded content arriving later than the 1996 gallery; the year the partnership took over the space is not sourced. Impact is major because this is the venue's debut - the uncertainty is carried by the medium confidence, not by the impact.

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Questions & answers

When did The American Film Institute Showcase open?

Per the documented record, The American Film Institute Showcase at Hollywood Studios opened in 1996.

When did The American Film Institute Showcase last close for refurbishment?

The most recent closure/refurbishment documented for The American Film Institute Showcase is dated Aug 17, 2014: The American Film Institute Showcase and its adjoining shop closed permanently after operating for the last time on Sunday, August 17, 2014, with "The Best in Film: AFI's 100 Years, 100 Movies" as the final exhibit.

What changed recently on The American Film Institute Showcase?

The latest documented change (documented Sep 29, 2014): After the Studio Backlot Tour closed, the Frozen-themed Wandering Oaken's Trading Post moved out of Soundstage 1 and into the vacated showcase building at the tour's former exit.

How many changes are on record for The American Film Institute Showcase?

5 documented changes, dating back to 1996 — the fan-kept show changelog nobody else keeps.

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