"Hold my beer and watch this", was mentioned at the time of lighting the fuse/liftoff.
By timing the flash to the arrival of the sound, and estimating the angle of elevation... I've had some go to 1500 feet and 2.5 miles (horizontal distance) away before blowing. The explosion was LOUD at 2.5 miles away... I can only imagine what it was like directly below the explosion.
If I did this today, I'd imagine I'd be waterboarded.
And rightfully so! /sarc