• the level of immaturity inherent in most college students
• fun with prank phone calling prior to the advent of caller ID
  
• Evanston public access television and its "personalities"

 
then you will not find this tale amusing, entertaining, or beguiling and you should move on.

If, however, you wish to discover HOW a character known as Cassandra Meade  (as well as Brandy Jantzen, the "author" of this blog) came to be, then here is the story.

College students - despite low cash flow, limited time, and lack of so-called "common sense" - have an uncanny knack for acquiring the barest of necessities to survive in the real world, such as cable television.

While kicking back after a rigorous day of studies, my roommate, Bridgette, and I happened upon a re-airing of "The Rob Linkhart Show" – Evanston Public Access Television's answer to Late Night with David Letterman. Midway through the show, our housemates enter the apartment. The homespun qualities of said show are discussed with much amusement and delight with our upstairs flatmates Dan, Aaron and Sanford. A habit soon develops in the house: watching the show together, taking note of Rob's quirky style and mannerisms, snickering, drinking Olympia beer ("It's The Water!"), more snickering.

In time, a plan is hatched to shake things up at The Rob Linkhart Show.

As it happened, Sanford's girlfriend at the time was a production assistant at the show, so she alerted us to live airings and "call-in" opportunities.

We gathered together one afternoon, popped on the show, and to our delight, a local telephone number flashed on the screen. I was designated as the person to make the crank phone call, pretending to be a sexy fan with stalker tendencies. At the time, I was a smoker, so I already possessed a gravelly quality to my voice. I breathily spoke on the air to Rob, and made remarks akin to innuendo about naughty "games" that we could play together.

After I hung up, laughter ensued, and even more beers were consumed. We decided to up the ante.

I called in again, and finally gave my name to the flummoxed (but, apparently flattered and intrigued) host: "Cassandra."

Rob then began to refer to me by name during the show. He was hooked…and so were we. The prank took a turn toward the be-wigged when we decided to be part of the live studio audience.  I was too chicken to go as my usual freckled, spunky, red-haired self. I decided to complete the Cassandra character with a thick, lustrous brunette hairdo, false eyelashes, and a pout of red lipstick. To aid my plan, I visited a local theatrical shop, and immediately was attracted to the look that exemplified Cassandra.

The gang of us attended the show the following week, and poor Rob seemed visibly shaken by the "new blood" in the studio. Meanwhile, I began getting so many compliments about my "hair" that I began using my investment more often. I discovered it came in quite handy during cold Chicago winters when making the trek from the El platform to our favorite dive bars – it was the most glamorous "hat" I ever had! And of course, besides being warm, it didn't mess-up my hair

So what began as a joke, became a small obsession for me, leading me to acquire additional wigs such as "Midge," (a short, full angled bob) and of course, "Brandy," a long, red, rocker-chick number. At the peak of my fetish, I believe I had in rotation  6 wigs.

Many of them now reside silently in my attic, along with the kitschy vintage outfits that accompanied them to various nightspots on Chicago's Northside. Some have gotten a second life of rotation via Halloween costumes or in theatrical productions. But I'll never forget "Cassandra," my first.

As Cassandra, (with my college friend, Philip), April 1991

Cassandra, heading out for Halloween, October 1991

As "Brandy" (with vintage leopard scarf in hair), circa 1992

"Cassandra" and her friend, Christian (in the Brandy wig - and apparently unhappy about it!)
Rainbo Club, Chicago, 1992

Part of my collection: "Brandy" modelled by Aaron; "Midge" on me, and "Cassandra" modelled by Odie