For a time, Houghton was the honorary secretary of the Manchester Athenaeum Dramatic Society, and frequently gave his services as a producer.
[3] Houghton's greatest success came with his play Hindle Wakes, which was first performed by Horniman's company at the Aldwych Theatre, London, on 16 June 1912.
[4] Following the success of Hindle Wakes, Houghton left his office job in 1912 to become a full-time dramatist and moved to London, where he became part of the city's dramatic and literary culture.
During the summer of that year he developed viral pneumonia in Venice and moved back to Manchester where he died in December from meningitis.
[1] A collection of material relating to Houghton, including unpublished plays and photographs, is held in the University of Salford.