- Was under lifetime contract to Philip Morris Inc. from 1933.
- The advertising executive handling the Phillip Morris account saw Johnny and the hotel where he worked. He paid him a dollar to page "Phillip Morris" in the lobby of the hotel. Johnny later said he had no idea there was a cigarette by that name. He had no idea at the time that while he was calling for "Phillip Morris" he was actually auditioning for what would become his career.
- Johnny was actually only 47" tall; and he weighed 59 pounds.
- He never married; and in fact lived with his mother until her death. He retired to White Plains, New York. In retirement he enjoyed sailing. He died in 1998 of natural causes.
- He was making $15.00 per week at the hotel. He received $100.00 for his first radio commercial. He soon was making $50,000 a year in the 1930's and 1940's when that was a lot of money.
- During World War II he attempted to join the Coast Guard Auxillary; but was turned down as "too short".
- AKA Tony Boris.
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