 Johnson's Broadway credits included "State of the Union" (1945), "A Free Soul" (1928), "Crime" (1927), "No Trespassing" (1926), "One of the Family" (1925), "All Dressed Up" (1925), "The Morning After" (1925), "Beggar on Horseback" (1925), "Beggar on Horseback" (1924), and "Go West, Young Man" (1923).Johnson was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Cecil B. DeMille following a performance of "The Silver Cord" at the Repertory Theater in Los Angeles, California.The play was produced by Simeon Gest of the Figueroa Playhouse.