Taylor Mason | |
---|---|
Birth name | Franklin Taylor Mason |
Born | February 22, 1956 |
Genres | Ventriloquist, comedian, and musician |
Spouse | Marsia Mason |
Notable works and roles | Bananas, Thou Shalt Laugh |
Website |
taylormason |
Franklin Taylor Mason (born February 22, 1956) is a comedian, ventriloquist and musician. [1]
Mason was raised on a farm in the suburb of Chicago, where his father was a farm news broadcaster on radio and TV. [2] [3] Mason graduated from the Ottawa Township Highschool in 1974 and went on to attend the University of Illinois where he majored in agriculture and communication. [4] Mason graduated from the University of Illinois in 1979. [4] He was first introduced to puppets by his parents at the age of 9. [5]
While Mason was attending the University of Illinois, he suffered a knee injury during a football game. [1] During recovery Mason started performing as a disc-jockey and stand-up comedian at his fraternity. [1] He mixed up his act by adding music, piano and ventriloquism to it. [1] He soon started performing at various Chicago piano bars. [1] According to Mason, when he started out as a comedian, he was the only ventriloquist in Chicago. [1]
In 1981, Mason was hired as the musical director of "The Second City Touring Company", a comedy improv group where Mason worked alongside other comedians such as Dan Castellaneta. [1] [6] While working at "The Second City Touring Company", Mason also met his future wife Marisa. [1]
Mason continued his ventriloquist act and also worked on his Masters in advertising. [4] He graduated with a degree from the Northwestern University in 1983. [4] By the end of his time at Northwestern, Mason was working full time as a comedian and performing at the Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago. [4]
From 1986 to 1989, Mason performed comedy shows at the New York City's Catch a Rising Star. [7] By 1990, Mason started appearing on comedy television shows. [7] During a period of 11 years starting from 1989, Mason did over 1,500 college shows across the country. [4]
In 1990, Mason auditioned for Star Search and later on he won the competition in 1991. [1] [5] Currently, Mason is working on his Dry Bar Comedy Series. [1]
Mason has authored two books on ventriloquism. He wrote his first book, A Complete Idiots Guide to Ventriloquism, while he was working at the Second City Touring Company. [1] His second book titled "Irreversible" was published in 2019. [8]
Mason lives with his wife in Beach Haven, New Jersey. The couple have two adult sons. [2]
Taylor Mason | |
---|---|
Birth name | Franklin Taylor Mason |
Born | February 22, 1956 |
Genres | Ventriloquist, comedian, and musician |
Spouse | Marsia Mason |
Notable works and roles | Bananas, Thou Shalt Laugh |
Website |
taylormason |
Franklin Taylor Mason (born February 22, 1956) is a comedian, ventriloquist and musician. [1]
Mason was raised on a farm in the suburb of Chicago, where his father was a farm news broadcaster on radio and TV. [2] [3] Mason graduated from the Ottawa Township Highschool in 1974 and went on to attend the University of Illinois where he majored in agriculture and communication. [4] Mason graduated from the University of Illinois in 1979. [4] He was first introduced to puppets by his parents at the age of 9. [5]
While Mason was attending the University of Illinois, he suffered a knee injury during a football game. [1] During recovery Mason started performing as a disc-jockey and stand-up comedian at his fraternity. [1] He mixed up his act by adding music, piano and ventriloquism to it. [1] He soon started performing at various Chicago piano bars. [1] According to Mason, when he started out as a comedian, he was the only ventriloquist in Chicago. [1]
In 1981, Mason was hired as the musical director of "The Second City Touring Company", a comedy improv group where Mason worked alongside other comedians such as Dan Castellaneta. [1] [6] While working at "The Second City Touring Company", Mason also met his future wife Marisa. [1]
Mason continued his ventriloquist act and also worked on his Masters in advertising. [4] He graduated with a degree from the Northwestern University in 1983. [4] By the end of his time at Northwestern, Mason was working full time as a comedian and performing at the Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago. [4]
From 1986 to 1989, Mason performed comedy shows at the New York City's Catch a Rising Star. [7] By 1990, Mason started appearing on comedy television shows. [7] During a period of 11 years starting from 1989, Mason did over 1,500 college shows across the country. [4]
In 1990, Mason auditioned for Star Search and later on he won the competition in 1991. [1] [5] Currently, Mason is working on his Dry Bar Comedy Series. [1]
Mason has authored two books on ventriloquism. He wrote his first book, A Complete Idiots Guide to Ventriloquism, while he was working at the Second City Touring Company. [1] His second book titled "Irreversible" was published in 2019. [8]
Mason lives with his wife in Beach Haven, New Jersey. The couple have two adult sons. [2]