But just like any good detective story depicted in movies displayed across towering screens overlooking hundreds of family-filled automobiles at dusk, the devil is in the details.

At its peak there were a half-dozen drive-ins reaching just about all corners of the county. Most were built in the late 1940s or early ’50s, at a time when rural families were expanding and vehicles were cheaper to own.

The drive-in became an alternative to traditional in-door theaters, and owners could draw customers with double-features, prizes and a place to grab a bite — of course rain or shine.

However, in the decades since their prominence, most of the concession stands and giant screens that made up the simple establishments have long been demolished or left to nature. In some instances, the only proof comes from aerial views showing the faint signature pie-shaped outlines where cars once crowed fields or concrete slabs.

The Pic 17 Self Storage, located at 3209 Fluvanna Ave. Ext., correlates to the former Pic 17 Drive-In Theater, which used to be located there.

News that developers are looking to bring a drive-in theater back to Chautauqua County may give nostalgia-seekers a glimmer of hope.

Advanced Production Group of Dunkirk is proposing to resurrect the former Van Buren Drive-In, located along West Lake Road and Van Buren Drive that ended its 42-year run in 1991. By 2011, the last remnant of the drive-in — the skeleton used to keep the screen upright — was blown down by a microburst storm.

At present, the project calls for three screens along with a multi-purpose field with a performance stage on one end and a concession stand for food and drinks at the other. The multi-purpose field, if the project comes to fruition, will be utilized as a secondary screen location, as well as community events, dance recitals, weddings, sporting events, farmers markets, graduations and car shows, among others. The second screen would be 24 feet by 16 feet and allow for movies to be shown twice a day, three times a week for children and the elderly.

Dan Beckley of Advanced Production Group said in a recent interview he hopes to have the main screen — 60 feet by 25 feet — installed by May 10 and open that weekend to customers.

“In a perfect world I’m able to obtain all the permits in a timely fashion,” he said.

The backdrop drive-in movies used to be projected on to at the former Falconer Drive-In Theater.

The project, Beckley estimates, will cost “far north of $1 million” due to all the infrastructure required.

“We’re ready to take on the challenge,” he added. “This should be a pretty good economic impact.”

The original Van Buren Drive-In opened in July 1949, with construction only taking about a month and a half. Partners in the project, which according to an article in the Evening Observer cost $100,000, included Irving Cohen and his son Gary Cohen of Rochester; Merle Dizel of Jamestown; and Albert Shapiro of Buffalo.

With capacity for 800 vehicles, the drive-in was by far the largest in the county. A 58-foot steel tower helped keep a 50-foot-by-40-foot screen in place.

At the time, the drive-in featured state-of-the-art technology.

“The individual speakers, which were completely installed by Wednesday night, are a big improvement over the general loud speaker system first used in drive-in theaters,” the Evening Observer reported the day of the location’s opening. “Each parking space has a stand with a speaker which is attached in the car and the volume is adjustable.”

Based on several websites that keep track of drive-ins — including newyorkdriveins.com — and a review of newspaper clippings, there have been seven major drive-in theaters located at one point or another in Chautauqua County.

¯ The Westfield Drive-In opened in May 1952 on East Main Street and was owned by Joseph Catania. With room for 500 vehicles at the time of its opening, it had “the largest screen of any drive-in theatre in Western New York, and has (an) individual sound system for each car,” an article in the Westfield Republican stated.

The Westfield Drive-In closed in 1986, and a fire reportedly destroyed the screen in the ’90s. All that remains at the site is portions of concrete formerly used for parking.

¯ The Falconer Drive-In at 3218 Falconer Kimball Stand Road opened in August 1955 and had enough space for more than 300 vehicles. The final season is reported to be 1987, with the former snack bar converted to an eatery, Sister’s Restaurant, that remains to this day.

Unlike other former drive-ins located in the county, the structure used to screen the movies remains standing in an otherwise empty field.

¯ The Lakewood Drive-In opened at its 171 W. Fairmount Ave. location in May 1950. According to advertisements in The Post-Journal at the time, the drive-in had space for 400 vehicles.

The final season was reported to be 1989; the land is now occupied by Dipson’s Lakewood Cinema.

¯ Midway Drive-In opened in August 1947 with room for 250 cars opposite Midway State Park in Maple Springs. It is believed to have closed in 1970, making it the shortest-lived locally.

¯ Pic 17 Drive-In was big enough to fit 500 cars when it opened for shows in June 1950. It was located at present day 3209 Fluvanna Ave. Ext. in Fluvanna, near the city of Jamestown.

An advertisement in The Post-Journal shortly before its opening stated Pic 17 was “Jamestown’s Newest-Most Deluxe” and that “The Moon Always Shines at Pic 17 with the latest in artificial moonlight.”

The drive-in closed in 1987. In its place is Pic 17 Self Storage.

¯ Park 60 Drive-In had two screens and was located at 1529 Foote Ave. near Jamestown. Unlike the county’s other drive-ins built in the post-World War II era, Park 60 opened in May 2001, part of a renaissance for the industry.

The drive-in had room for 320 vehicles and was open seasonally from April through September. It closed after the 2014 season.