The Story of the Midland Theatre Bombing

On January 11, 1932, an explosion tore through the lobby of the Midland Theatre, then known as the Loew’s Midland, marking one of the most tragic events in the building’s history.

The blast killed Frank Alexander, a young janitor who had discovered what he believed was a discarded package beneath a balcony seat shortly after a show ended. As he carried it downstairs toward the lobby, the dynamite inside detonated, damaging the lobby but narrowly missing departing patrons.

The bombing was not random, but part of a series of theater attacks tied to bitter labor disputes between rival projectionists’ unions in Kansas City during the early 1930s.

In total, eight theaters were bombed over several months, though the Midland explosion proved deadlier than intended. The men responsible were quickly arrested and sentenced to life in prison.

Today, small pockmarks from the blast can still be seen along the walls near the north staircase, and the story of Frank Alexander remains a tragic part of the Midland’s history.

Courtesy Midland Theatre