Van Buren Drive-In
5375 Van Buren Road,
Dunkirk,
NY
14048
5375 Van Buren Road,
Dunkirk,
NY
14048
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 65 of 65 comments
Get over it people: it did NOT close almost 30 years ago; once again (Mike), my source is…the fact I WENT there (and I would say actual advertisements, verifiable by the same, still-running paper that ran them, is a pretty good corroborating source).
It’s not altogether rational to say “I wouldn’t change something without proof”, when the only thing standing between the changer and the proof is actually bothering to consult the sources plainly offered here (e.g., Dunkirk Evening Observer); the sources aren’t going to magically approach us with pertinent evidence of their own volition.
Separately, I’m not sure I understand what’s meant by “As long as my name is on this theater”; the theater is now closed with NO name on it (maybe what was meant wasn’t the “theater”, per se, but the theatre’s listing on this site?).
Lastly, should any of us begin to worry about how much needling attention we’ve afforded an exceptionally trivial matter like this? It’s as though we’re debating language for a Cuban missile crisis communique, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
If it closed in 1979, then it’s been almost 30 years since it operated as a drive-in.
I went by this former drive-in the other day and it definitely isn’t in business anymore, but the cement screen with its back to the road is still standing as a testament to the past!
I don’t know what I’m supposed to find on the website link you gave. The website asked if I wanted to download a file. I didn’t download the file for security reason’s. I would like to view your pictures when possible.
I have some pictures of the drive-in that I took this past week. I am not quite certain I want to post them anywhere, as they make the venue look fairly sad. Everything is overgrown, from the projection house to the ticket office to signs. New houses have been built nearby, probably making it harder to reopen, assuming someone would be foolhardy enough to try.
Pick your error, then Mike. The Drive-in was open beyond the time that it was owned by the Cohens. They were advertising in the local paper as recently as May 1992. My source for Dipson is http://movie-theatre.org/ , whether this information is accurate, I don’t know.
When I looked on Drive-ins.com for this theatre it only gives Owner as Cohen. No mention of Dipson theatres. I wouldn’t change anything for this theatre without proof.
Because that language actually doesn’t describe what’s been presented here: by most apparent accounts, the Cohen family did NOT operate the drive-in past 1979, but, for at least part of that time, Dipson did (and I can confirm that Dipson did run the Cine). Am I misunderstanding something? Reconciling language would be this: “…built and run by the Cohen family in 1949, apparently changing hands to Dipson at some point and ultimately closing in the early 90s under unconfirmed ownership”.
As far as why they are “silent” about the operation of the Van Buren drive-in after they ceased to have an interest in the property, well all I can suggest is that you ask them. After all, you have two folks here who were on the property after it “closed” while it was showing movies. Plus, I saw the ads in the local paper for as much as 13 years after the facility closed. Waste of money, no? All we can do is guess as to their motives. But they know their motives, so why not ask them, and post us their response.
According to another website, Dipson operated the Drive-in, Cine, and Regent through the 80’s. Dipson is completely silent about this. The best answer I can give you to the answer of who operated the drive-in after Cohen is “someone else”.
I don’t exactly see what the issue is. The drive-in did advertise through at least May 1992. I know it operated through much of the 1980’s, as I saw cars entering during my pizza delivery runs. (Including a delivery to a projectionist there.)
I don’t know why anyone would think that a website for a business has any responsibilty to make sure data about a former property is kept accurate. Does Infogrames say who is renting Borregas Ave in Sunnyvale today? Infogrames being the owner of Atari, and Borregas Ave. being the home of Atari “back in the day” when it was a major hardware and software manufacturer. Doesn’t make much sense, Lost, but seems to me what you are suggesting.
If the Transit Drive-In’s history page is at all accurate in this regard, a reconciliation of it and the fact that the Van Buren Drive-In was open throughout the ‘80s would be that it closed and then re-opened, perhaps in connection with new ownership. In any case, I’m not referencing any third-party source in my claim of The Van Buren Drive-In’s activity during the '80s, but the fact that I actually watched films there during this same period.
The Van Buren Drive In was closed sometime after May 1991, but prior to May 1992.
Actually, the Van Buren Drive-In was in operation at least through much of the 1980s.
I grew up in this part of western NYS and have driven by the Van Buren many times, but never went there as a young girl. ;–) Interestingly, it was built by the Cohen family.