Global InformationCanonsburg Opera House disaster information
 The Morgan Building in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. | |
| Date | August 26, 1911 |
|---|---|
| Location | Morgan Building, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Type | Stampede |
| Cause | Projector Malfunction / False Alarm |
| Deaths | 26 |
The Canonsburg Opera House disaster occurred on August 26, 1911 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. A false shout of "fire" triggered a panic that killed twenty-six people.[1]
During the evening showing of a motion picture, a projector malfunction resulted in a sudden flash of light on the screen. Although no fire resulted, a crowd of theater patrons rushed to the exit of the second story theater and became lodged in the doorway which served as the theater's main entrance and exit.
- ^ "THEATRE DEATHS DUE TO NARROW STAIRS". The New York Times. August 28, 1911.