If this premise sounds like a certain best-selling work of narrative nonfiction that introduced millions of readers to the majesty of the White City and the devilish doings of the alleged serial killer, you’d be right … and terribly wrong. This self-described “independent passion project” is a raucously irreverent but captivating retelling, with plenty of historical tidbits expanded and lampooned for added enjoyment.
In Episode 1: “The Resurrectionists” (released April 15, 2023) we meet a young H.H. Holmes gas-lighting (figuratively; the real gruesome stuff comes later, we expect) his landlady. Then the action moves to the assemblage of architects anxiously planning the Columbian Exposition fairgrounds (“No steamboats!” insists one designer), and finally to a scene of ridicule of the clueless-but-conniving Patrick Eugene Prendergast. Oh, and there is an unusual commercial break for The Columbian Cookbook by Adelaide Hollingsworth that would make anyone want to quit smoking.
Episode 2: “The Irony Wheel” (released July 5, 2023) revolves (get it?) around plans for the giant metal centerpiece of the Midway Plaisance, but only after a string of proposals for truly terrible towers of terror. And speaking of which … an unconventional hotel starts going up near the Fair. You can check-out any time you like, but can you ever leave? How can you generate gold spinning a wheel? Listen and find out.
Episode 3: “Nobody Wants to Work Anymore!” (They are talking about 1893, right?) introduces listeners to a very confident Sophia Hayden trying to complete her architectural work on the Woman’s Building while resisting the meddling of Bertha Palmer. We also hear about Chicago entrepreneur James McElroy’s incredible plan (but did it really happen?) to pump spring water from Waukesha, Wisconsin, over 100 miles to the fairgrounds in Jackson Park. Dirtboy advises that this episode (released September 21, 2023) is NSFW.
No Holmes Barred! is available through many major podcast services.
“No steamboats!”