543 - Live at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (Portland Early Show)

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

This episode of My Favorite Murder features Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark performing live at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland.

Key takeaways

• The Martin family disappeared in 1958 during a Christmas trip, and their car was found in the Columbia River after decades of mystery.
• A diver named Archer Mayo discovered the Martin family car in the Cascade Locks area, providing closure to a long-standing cold case.
• Two popular students from Grant High School, Tom Curtis and Ethan Thrower, turned to armed robbery, leading to their eventual arrest and imprisonment.
• The hosts discuss the challenges of performing live, including wardrobe issues and the importance of having practical items like pockets in dresses.
• The episode highlights the power of individual dedication and persistence in solving cold cases and bringing closure to families.
• The hosts reflect on the impact of true crime on their lives and how it shaped the creation of their podcast.
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Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:01) This is exactly right. I'm Jake Brennan, and on the Disgraceland podcast, I explore the wild lives of rock stars and unbelievable true crime stories from music history. These are the stories you haven't heard, the kind you'll end up telling someone else. Like the time Paul McCartney spent in a notorious prison or the bizarre crime Lady Gaga is accused of, or that time Blondie's Debbie Harry escaped Ted Bundy. Listen to Disgraceland, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get in your podcasts. I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt Season 3 podcast. This is a story about a horrendous situation that destroyed two families. It's a scorched earth war that shows just how far someone will go to get what they want. Cindy said, I had to choose between the truth and my family, and I had to choose the truth. Listen to season three of Burden of Guilt on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Joy is essential, and it's also elusive. But now, there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. If you're craving inspiration, support, and useful tools to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby starting June 10th on the I-Heart Radio After. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Of course, of course you did. Of course you won the noise contest. You blew back my things. They were so loud. Blowing behind you purely from noise. Yes. Oh, holy shit. So good to see you again, Portland. It's been a while. Yes. How are you? Yeah, we knew we had to add you guys on this little trip that we're taking of touring because they're always so supportive of us and we appreciate that so much. Since day one. Yeah. You know that? Because they're the cool kids, too. They're the ones who know. Yeah. They're the ones who drink the drink special and get all fucked up and then, like, fight in that aisle and shit. Like, this is... They're the ones riding their bikes naked down the street in protest. Yeah. You got to rise up naked and get on that bike. Was anyone that's here today at the naked bike ride today? Are you still naked? Oh, my God! be so amazing if four people were just sitting there kind of weirdly naked in a grand theater like this. Oh my God. I just took a... Uh-oh. What's it going to be? There's like a pill wheel of fortune where you find out on stage what you took. Two of my best friends in the world, Kate Amatics and Carrie Sullen Better are here and they were backstage. We were being very loud, I'm sure. Everyone noticed. And Kate Whips out a thing of nicotine pouches. And she was like, put one on, you'll be up all night because we have to do two shows tonight. It's like a lot. And I've already had like a Red Bull. I'm so sorry to say this, but that's such a like 40-year-old way of partying. Where it's like, you guys. I'm high on nicotine patches. It's like either a 12-year-old way or a 40-year-old way. I mean, it works either way, I think. But it's so funny. Or it's like, no, no, no, we're not doing lines of coke before the show. That's crazy. Doing... Nicarret. So if I'm obnoxious, it's her fault. It's not true. It's my mom's fault, really. I mean, ultimately. It's always the mother's fault. Yeah. Ultimately. Janet. Should I tell them about... Should I tell them about Janet in Boston? Absolutely. Oh, my God. So we went to Boston, and I flew my mom in for live shows. My mom and stepdad, it was really exciting, and it's being filmed for something, like, really exciting that we can. can't talk about. So I meet her in the lobby. We'd all just flown in, and her fucking front tooth is missing. It's like the nub. Her cap fell off. And the way, just as an outside non-family member person, Janet is a pulled-together fancy lady with a blowout that goes on for days. Like, this is not a, whoops, I don't have a front-tooth type of person. We know those people. those people rule. That's fine. That's a whole almost better way to party. Yes. It's totally fine, but I got my vanity from my mom and she's got a lot to give. So I was like, I know you're not going to want to be on this very important special filming thing without your front fucking tooth. So you're not sightseeing tomorrow. Sorry, Mom. You got to find a dentist. She did. Do it now. And then I said, can I talk about it on stage and make fun of you? And she was like, yeah, you can embellish. I don't care. She was so cool about it. And I was like, if we'd only found out in time, we could have gotten some tooth black and then both turned around and then, like, us too! See, we didn't have time for the comedy. No. We've got to make time for the comedy. Speaking of making time, this is my favorite murder of the black house. Oh, hi. That's George a Hard Star. Show him your outfit, your beautiful outfit. Listen, listen, before I do this, I'm going to tell you one thing. This is a tour, each city two nights. It's a lot of dresses. It's a lot of dresses. No. Didn't have that many to begin with, had to do a lot of speed shopping and kind of like care about a thing. This dress does not have pockets, and I swear to God if you bake a noise at me, you don't get to boo me. I taught you how important pockets fucking off. Yeah. Do you know that one time after, and I can't remember what city this was in, a woman at a meet and greet gave me, and you, I think there were two sets, but they were very vintage tie-on pockets so that if your dress didn't have pockets, you can, like one of those old-fashioned period band things, you could tie pockets under your dress and have them waiting there for you, if need be. That's how bad it was for women. We were just like, can we please have rights? No, but you can have tie-on pockets. Thanks. Patriarchy. They cost $25. And the men's tie-on pockets cost $7.99. Look, we're not going to get it all done in one night, but we can address a lot of it. We can. Would you like to do your modeling? Look at this. Insane dress. Look at these weird, what are these? Tail? What are they called flaps? Yeah, they're called flaps in fashion. I lost my mind over this dress when I saw it. It's definitely vintage. I was tailoring it backstage because it was ripping with a stapler, so. She was tailoring it backstage. That's what I do. I heard her down the hog out. Do you have a stapler? And I was like, what in the world? It can't be paper. There's no way it's paper. What is she doing over there? I literally stapled my like crinoline up so it wasn't like hanging down. And then I forgot my jewelry in the town where my best friend Carrie like sells jewelry. And I forgot to bring the jewelry that she gave me, the beautiful stuff. So she called her sweet husband Allen and was like, don't leave. Go to my fucking jewelry box. FaceTime me. And like, I was like, Karen. you don't have to do this, but she's like, yes, I do. She's like, because you know what this podcast is all about? The gems. That's right. Gems, gemstones. Fancy. Yeah. Here's the thing. I walked around today just trying to find a cup of coffee. Just trying to find a craft beer. The fuck is wrong with this. Nowhere to be found. Can't find a hot dog. Can't find an antique to save your fucking life. It's literally coffee, coffee, craft beer. Yeah. Coffee, a different kind of craft beer. It's a different hop. It's a different type of bicycle that this one's named after. Okay. Should we sit down? Oh, yeah, let's do it. Oh. Thank you. I thought the short table was a one-off. I thought, yeah. This is the exact same table you always have, except oops, it's short. But, I mean, it's a table. In this economy, we can't complain about a fucking low table. No, not in the least. But I do love that you said, but oops, it's short. Like, oops, all berries, Captain Crunch. Or I just like, mm-hmm. But oops. Do you want to tell the people who don't know why we were applauded for sitting down what's going on now? Although, I cannot imagine that they're... Yeah. Thank you. I hate it so much. but I appreciate you of a lot of my allergies. There's no one in this room that doesn't get what's happening. I just can't imagine. But just in case there is, just in case somebody tortured their partner or their parent or we've met a couple of people where it's like, oh, that's my mom. She has no idea what's going on. Or it's like, not the mom. Hasn't she suffered an... She already hates you so much. This is my favorite murder. It's a comedy true crime podcast. And that's because when Georgia and I first met each other, we realized that we were two people who had similar trauma and we dealt with it with the same coping mechanisms, which was ingesting true crime and humor. So, humor. So that's why we started this podcast. That's why it started the way it did. It's developed over 10 years. Oh, my God. Which I'm, let us just thank you. Thank you. But also, let us just tell you right now, that's like triple too long for a podcast. It's so long for a podcast. For a homework podcast. A homework podcast. I always think about what if we were talking in the cafe before we started and we were planning it? And I said, and every week one of us will tell each other a story instead of both of us. Oh, sorry, I didn't listen to the whole thing. Wait, do it again. One of us will tell a story. Oh, that's a great idea. Yeah, every other. Not both of us will tell. Like, it just could have been so simple. But we didn't even, like, I literally thought in the beginning that I was going to be able to tell these fucking stories off the top of my head. What? I don't remember what day it is today. How would that be possible? Anyhow, this isn't in the speech. Sorry, that was just, like, personal realization. So anyhow, we don't think murder is funny. We think we're funny. And so we enjoy talking to each other. about the thing that actually is very upsetting and difficult and bad because that's what life is like. Horrible things happen and you process them the way that works for you. Ultimately, what I'm saying is, if you don't like it, you can get the fuck out. Unless, of course, you work here and then we're deeply, deeply sorry. Deeply sorry. Our apologies to you. Yeah, they can't get out. Don't even know what a podcast is. And now it's just like, I know. It's just... So podcasts are women swearing in each other? Okay, I guess. I am glad. Last, whatever show we just did, I don't know where the fuck we were. Where were we? I don't know. San Diego? The fog machine broke. And not in a... It turned off way. And it turned all the way on way. And suddenly we were like in a fucking cemetery at night. It was kind of awesome. It would have been amazing if when the fog machine broke, someone ran out two lanterns. and we could have just been like, ohoy! Or something. It could be Stephen. Steven, Steven's a Lanter boy. Stephen! RIP. No, he's not. No. They know he's alive. He's right there on social media for everybody. He is. Yeah. I'm first. I think so. Okay. I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt Season 3 podcast. This is a story about a horrendous situation that destroyed two families. It started more than seven years ago when Cindy and Kenny were two 40-somethings who had just gotten engaged. Days later, they walked into a scorched earth war they never saw coming. Turn around and place your hands behind your back. The cops given to my house and threw me in jail. And to Cindy's surprise, her fiancé Kenny was charged with abusing one of her children. I never once doubted Kenny, and I always doubted the accusation. On season three of burden of guilt, you'll hear a story about the length someone will go to in order to get what they want. This case has got to be one of the most despicable. Listen to season three of Burden of Guilt on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm so excited about this one and maybe three other people will be too. because it's a story that was an enduring mystery. It was a cold case for over six decades. It's haunted reporters, investigators, and Oregonians that entire time until recently. Oh. Uh-huh. Dude, the perseverance and ingenuity of a civilian. We love civilians. Oh, yes. That's right. Yep, that's right. It seems like this is no longer a cold case, so you're going to get your wish. Okay. This is the story of the Martin's... family disappearance. Oh, wow. Yeah. This one, I mean, late night scrolling for me, for sure. The main source of the story is reporting from the Oregonian. So thank you. They know their stuff. They do. I'll never forget faces of meth. I'll never forget it. As long as I live. No joke. Is that from? God, I wish I could throw to a clip right now. It's me. I'll just explain it. Baby Georgia. A little baby Georgia. Yeah. Wait, you know what it is. Well, I know Faces of Meth, what it is, but what does that have to do with the Oregonian? Tell me. Well, are you thinking of Faces of Death? No. Where it's the picture, cyber side or the Aragonian did that. That was your work? That was your work. How did you know? I didn't know that. It was great work. It was for fine work. Don't do math. No, guys. For Drag-A-Longs, that's another big theme of this show. No joke. Don't do math, yeah. Do not. Do everything else. Anything you want. Nicotine pouch. all the things. Oh my God. Cover your body on nicotine. Pouches, though. I'm talking about the one that goes in your gum. Not a patch. Oh. I'm talking about I had a fucking pouch in my gum like a baseball player. Hold on. Hold the phone. That is not a nicotine pouch or patch. What is it? Cha. Chew. But it was in a little pouch. Skull. What do you mean? Mouth cancer. Can you really quickly tell me what you're talking about? There's these little pouches that look like little pouches of cocaine, I mean, let's be honest. Okay. And you take it and you put it under your lip right here and you just kind of hold it in your, like here, in your gums for like 20 minutes, spitting out the gross stuff. I'm serious. It's like, shot. It is like, but it's in a pouch. So it's like orderly. It's like OCD people. Holy shit. That's incredible. You want one? I mean, yes, absolutely. Kate, will you bring one backstage? That would be so funny. What's Karen like on Nicotine Bouch? Stop it. Stop it. We're trying to start the show. I just, can I say this? Yeah. Go ahead. Always. Some of my best memories of live shows took place in Portland, Oregon. Now try to pressure you guys. You've already done a great job. But I'm just saying, we've done so many fucking unbelievable live shows here. And the one that was at the schoolhouse. That's right. I mean, Jesus Christ. So if you guys don't want to laugh, you don't have to, but it's going to be a shitty show in that case. It's all your fault. And if you don't want to get so drunk that you and your sister come on stage, that's your choice. We're just saying we have standards. And we're back. And we're pouched. And ready to perform. It's December 7th, 1958, and the Martin family piles into the family car. The family is camp. Ken and Barbara. Yes, Ken and Barbie. So cute. And there are three daughters, Barbara, who does go by Barbie, Virginia, and Sue. Barbie is 14, Virginia is 13, and Sue is 11. The Martins also have a son in the Navy stationed in New York at the time away from the family. Let's take a picture of the family, shall we? I know. I'm older than those parents. Isn't that insane? Yes, you are. Well, what's funny is, like, that's real time. Yeah. We're the future. We're the future. It's like, hey, what's up? I'm 55. Yeah. And they're just like, what the fuck? Sorry, I've had a lot of work done. This is not natural. Anyway. These teeth are gigantic. But the point is, they didn't have that kind of science. They didn't. So sad. Yeah, like I'm older than him. I promise. He's 38, probably. Yeah, for sure. But also, that black dress with polka dots is what I'm looking for at every vintage store that I look in. It's gorgeous. Okay, so the Martins are really, really into Christmas. Every year, Ken makes four-foot wooden candy canes to get out to the neighbors so they can all put it on their houses and decorate, which is so nice. You can't just, like, order stuff online back then. No. No, it's like to make it. The Martins and their neighbors go all out decorating, and their street is nicknamed Candy Lane. because of all of Ken's candy canes and everyone going all out. It's like, sweet, yeah. Ken dresses up as Santa Claus every year, and it's a beloved holiday tradition in the neighborhood. He says hell no to store-bought Santa costumes. He's, like, so into it that he convinces a friend, or sorry, his sister to sew him this, like, perfect, exquisite Santa costume. Like, they take it seriously. I just like the idea that there were Santa costumes back then, and it was, like, the quality was of question. where it's like, sir, just you wait. Just you wait until 2025. Yeah, and they were so flammable probably too. Like you stand near a candle. Okay. So this holiday spirit has inspired the family to leave the house on December 7th. The Martins are driving east into the countryside from their home in northeast Portland. It's beautiful this time of year. To collect evergreen boughs. to make wreaths and garlands to decorate their house. So the Martins leave the home around noon. Just around the neighborhood? Like they're just going to cut other people's trees? No, no, no, no. There's a couple pine trees. Christmas vacation when they drive out to cut their tree down. Like, it's like that. Like they're going out into wilderness to, like, get nice things to make it with. So they're not, like, you know, stealing. Right. There's no craftsmen's that a young couple is just remodeled that are sitting there. Right. It's no. So they leave their home around noon. They stopped to eat at a place called Paradise Snack Bar in Hood River. It's not there anymore, unfortunately. It's about 60 miles from Portland, and this is sometime between 2 and 4 p.m. And they also stopped to get gas at Cascade Locks. You guys love it. Okay, so what? I just love it and name any area, and people are like, I know it. So what did someone yell? Maybe. You said the name Stephanie, and someone lost their mind. I was just like, shut the fuck up,