Here is a publicity print for an 1896 play "The War of Wealth" written by Charles Turner Dazey. The bank's cashier has been locked in the vault which cannot be opened due to the time locks. The bank owner frees the cashier by blowing it open. See http://ultimatehistoryproject.com/up...of_wealth_.pdf for a summary of the play.

Click image for larger version.  Name: War of Wealth.jpg  Views: 26  Size: 134.3 KB  ID: 15562

No doubt the depiction of this was exciting and dramatic for the audience. But I wouldn't want to be that close to an actual explosion. And it looks like it's being blown from the inside? Probably a case of artistic license winning over realism.