About Austen Tayshus
Alexander Jacob "Sandy" Gutman (born 17 March 1954), better known as Austen Tayshus, is an American-born Jewish Australian comedian. Born in New York to Polish Jewish parents, he moved to Sydney at the age of one and grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home. His stand-up career began at the Sydney Comedy Store in 1981, and the stage name is an aptronym based on the word "ostentatious". He gained public recognition in 1983 with the comedy single "Australiana", a spoken word piece filled with Australian puns that became the biggest-selling Australian 12-inch single ever and spent 13 weeks at number one. He later released singles including "Phantom Shuffle" and "Highway Corroboree" and the album Whispering Joke. In 2010 he ran for the Australian House of Representatives in the Division of Warringah for the Australian Sex Party.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Austen Tayshus's real name?
Austen Tayshus is the stage name of Alexander Jacob Gutman, known as Sandy, an Australian comedian born in New York on 17 March 1954.
What does the name Austen Tayshus mean?
The stage name is an aptronym built on the word ostentatious.
When did Austen Tayshus start stand-up?
His stand-up career began at the Sydney Comedy Store in 1981, many years after he moved to Sydney at the age of one.
What is Australiana by Austen Tayshus?
Australiana is his 1983 spoken word comedy single full of Australian puns; it became the biggest-selling Australian 12-inch single ever and spent 13 weeks at number one.
What other records has Austen Tayshus released?
His later releases include the singles Phantom Shuffle and Highway Corroboree and the album Whispering Joke.
Did Austen Tayshus run for parliament?
In 2010 he stood for the Australian House of Representatives in the Division of Warringah for the Australian Sex Party.
