Trivia

In February 1933, the car Johann was driving was hit by John Huston and she sustained minor injuries. A little over 6 months later, Huston was involved in another accident that killed dancer Tosca Roulien.

She was given an MGM contract with a script approval clause but turned down every script offered to her. She reportedly said to production head Irving Thalberg, "Why do you make these awful pictures?.

Before acting in a scene she would pray.

During WWII, she raised money for war-related charities, and organized shows for American soldiers. In later years, she worked with disturbed children and gave private acting lessons.

She turned down the lead in the 1929 version of "Showboat" in favor of appearing in a Broadway play along with Clark Gable.

Her first husband, John Houseman, was a grain dealer when she married him, but his business career was wiped out by the Wall Street Crash only a short time after their wedding. It was her idea that he should try to make a new career for himself by following her into the theatre and the movies.

She asked RKO to be released from her contract with the studio when they tried to make her appear in what she considered a tawdry melodrama, "Thirteen Women.".

She was a strong woman in Hollywood and once phoned up a major studio executive to ask why he made such rubbish.

Acted on Broadway from 1924-1942. Appeared in 12 major productions.

She moved to New York City with her family when she was 7, and appeared in high school plays. She had roles in touring productions of "Peer Gynt," "The Devil's Disciple" and "He Who Gets Slapped." She made her Broadway debut in 1924 in the Theater Guild's production of "Man and the Masses.".