Some, like Mike Firman of Dunkirk, who had relatives that worked there in the 1950s and '60s, were returning to the Van Buren for the ... a screeching halt when New York State allowed venues ...

DUNKIRK, N.Y. — The Van Buren Drive-In was first opened in 1949, quickly becoming a spot for families in Dunkirk to enjoy a night out at the movies. It eventually closed down in 1991.