Pete Smith
Acting
1892-09-04 · New York City, New York, USA
Born Peter Schmidt in New York City, Pete Smith got a job after graduating business college with The Player magazine and later with Billboard magazine. That led to his being hired as a publicist for Famous Players-Lasky and Artcraft Pictures, and he was later appointed publicity director at Paramount Pictures. Director Marshall Neilan hired Smith to be the publicist for his own production company, and Smith left New York for Hollywood. After Neilan's company closed, Smith freelanced for a short period before being hired by MGM in 1925 as the head of its publicity department, a position he held until 1930. The job that really brought him recognition, however, was his producing, writing and narrating a series of shorts known as "Pete Smith Specialties" for MGM. The one-reelers covered just about every subject imaginable, from the animal world to the latest technology to how to handle annoying patrons in movie theaters, all delivered with Smith's trademark wry, bemused narration. Many of the later shorts were written and directed by actor Dave O'Brien, using the name David Barclay. Sixteen entries in the series were nominated for Oscars, and two of them won. The series came to an end in 1954, though there were enough made to continue releasing into 1955. Smith's later years were plagued by bad health, and he spent more and more time being hospitalized. In 1979, with his health deteriorating rapidly, he committed suicide by jumping out of the window of his ninth-floor hospital room. He was 86 years old.
Filmography
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002 · Movie
MGM Parade
1955 · Series
The Fall Guy
1955 · Movie
Animals in Action
1955 · Movie
Just What I Needed
1955 · Movie
The Man Around the House
1955 · Movie
Rough Riding
1954 · Movie
The Camera Caught It
1954 · Movie
Film Antics
1954 · Movie
Out for Fun
1954 · Movie
Do Someone a Favor!
1954 · Movie
Fish Tales
1954 · Movie
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954 · Movie
Things We Can Do Without
1953 · Movie
This Is a Living?
1953 · Movie
Cash Stashers
1953 · Movie
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953 · Movie
The Mosconi Story
1953 · Movie
Reducing
1952 · Movie
Musiquiz
1952 · Movie
Fishing Feats
1951 · Movie
Bargain Madness
1951 · Movie
Camera Sleuth
1951 · Movie
Curious Contests
1950 · Movie
Wrong Way Butch
1950 · Movie
A Wife's Life
1950 · Movie
Did'ja Know?
1950 · Movie
Crashing the Movies
1950 · Movie
Pest Control
1950 · Movie
Sports Oddities
1949 · Movie
We Can Dream, Can't We?
1949 · Movie
Water Trix
1949 · Movie
Those Good Old Days
1949 · Movie
Super Cue Men
1949 · Movie
Let's Cogitate
1948 · Movie
Ice Aces
1948 · Movie
Just Suppose
1948 · Movie
You Can't Win
1948 · Movie
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948 · Movie
Bowling Tricks
1948 · Movie
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947 · Movie
Surfboard Rhythm
1947 · Movie
Football Thrills No. 10
1947 · Movie
Neighbor Pests
1947 · Movie
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947 · Movie
Now You See It
1947 · Movie
Diamond Demon
1947 · Movie
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
1947 · Movie
I Love My Husband, But!
1946 · Movie
Sure Cures
1946 · Movie
Football Thrills No. 9
1946 · Movie
Treasures from Trash
1946 · Movie
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946 · Movie
Studio Visit
1946 · Movie
Gettin' Glamour
1946 · Movie
Fala at Hyde Park
1946 · Movie
Badminton
1945 · Movie
Guest Pests
1945 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1944
1945 · Movie
Hollywood Scout
1945 · Movie
The Great Morgan
1945 · Movie
Safety Sleuth
1944 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1943
1944 · Movie
Movie Pests
1944 · Movie
Sportsman's Memories
1944 · Movie
Groovie Movie
1944 · Movie
Home Maid
1944 · Movie
Water Wisdom
1943 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1942
1943 · Movie
Seventh Column
1943 · Movie
Seeing Hands
1943 · Movie
Fala: The President's Dog
1943 · Movie
Hollywood Daredevils
1943 · Movie
Marines in the Making
1942 · Movie
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942 · Movie
Calling All Pa's
1942 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1941
1942 · Movie
Victory Quiz
1942 · Movie
Acro-Batty
1942 · Movie
What About Daddy?
1942 · Movie
Aqua Antics
1942 · Movie
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
1941 · Movie
Fancy Answers
1941 · Movie
Army Champions
1941 · Movie
Flicker Memories
1941 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1940
1941 · Movie
Water Bugs
1941 · Movie
Cuban Rhythm
1941 · Movie
Lions on the Loose
1941 · Movie
Aeronutics
1941 · Movie
Memory Tricks
1941 · Movie
Third Dimensional Murder
1941 · Movie
Penny To the Rescue
1941 · Movie
Wedding Bills
1940 · Movie
Quicker'n a Wink
1940 · Movie
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940 · Movie
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
1940 · Movie
Social Sea Lions
1940 · Movie
Spots Before Your Eyes
1940 · Movie
The Domineering Male
1940 · Movie
Stuffie
1940 · Movie
Maintain the Right
1940 · Movie
Let's Talk Turkey
1939 · Movie
Set 'em Up
1939 · Movie
Take a Cue
1939 · Movie
Culinary Carving
1939 · Movie
Poetry of Nature
1939 · Movie
Radio Hams
1939 · Movie
Weather Wizards
1939 · Movie
Marine Circus
1939 · Movie
Heroes at Leisure
1939 · Movie
Double Diving
1939 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1938
1939 · Movie
Penny's Picnic
1938 · Movie
Man's Greatest Friend
1938 · Movie
Hot on Ice
1938 · Movie
Grid Rules
1938 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1937
1938 · Movie
Fisticuffs
1938 · Movie
Anaesthesia
1938 · Movie
Penny's Party
1938 · Movie
Three on a Rope
1938 · Movie
The New Audioscopiks
1938 · Movie
Friend Indeed
1937 · Movie
Candid Cameramaniacs
1937 · Movie
Romance of Radium
1937 · Movie
Equestrian Acrobats
1937 · Movie
Pigskin Champions
1937 · Movie
The Grand Bounce
1937 · Movie
Penny Wisdom
1937 · Movie
Bar-Rac's Night Out
1937 · Movie
Dexterity
1937 · Movie
Wanted - A Master
1936 · Movie
Hurling
1936 · Movie
Killer Dog
1936 · Movie
Harnessed Rhythm
1936 · Movie
The Jonker Diamond
1936 · Movie
Let's Dance
1936 · Movie
Audioscopiks
1935 · Movie
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935 · Movie
Water Sports
1935 · Movie
Trained Hoofs
1935 · Movie
Donkey Baseball
1935 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Ten
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Nine
1934 · Movie
Strikes and Spares
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Eight
1934 · Movie
Pro Football
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Seven
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Six
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Five
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Four
1934 · Movie
Manhattan Melodrama
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Three
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number Two
1934 · Movie
Roping Wild Bears
1934 · Movie
Goofy Movies Number One
1933 · Movie
Fine Feathers
1933 · Movie
Menu
1933 · Movie
Handlebars
1933 · Movie
Inflation
1933 · Movie
Throttle Pushers
1933 · Movie
Swing High
1932 · Movie
Microscopic Mysteries
1932 · Movie
Desert Regatta
1932 · Movie
Snow Birds
1932 · Movie
Color Scales
1932 · Movie
Olympic Events
1932 · Movie
Wild and Woolly
1931 · Movie
Trader Hound
1931 · Movie
Football Thrills of 1939
Movie