Anecdotes

From June 1917 to April 1919, was a member of the U.S. Army Army Ambulance Corps. He served in France during World War I, where his unit was attached to the 17th French Division.

Attended Blair Academy in New Jersey where he was on the track team, running the second leg of their mile relay team.

Received degrees in voice and teaching music from the Institute of Musical Arts in New York (now the Juilliard School).

His last film appearances were for lowly Producer's Releasing Corporation, or PRC. This studio was universally known as the worst studio in Hollywood, both in terms of salary and production budgets. For a synopsis of the origins of PRC see Ben Judell.

Performed on Broadway from late 1928 to early 1935 in 8 productions.

Starred in 11 films for PRC, all teamed with sidekick Al St. John, with Houston cast as "The Lone Rider." He was ultimately replaced by the more marketable ex-Republic cowboy star Robert Livingston. he quit Hollywood and died of a heart attack about two years later at age 48.

He was reported to be preparing for a nationwide opera tour sponsored by the Theatre Guild the night he suffered a fatal heart attack in Hollywood. His wife, Virginia Card was appearing in the road show version of the smash hit "Oklahoma!" in Chicago at the time of his death.