Pete Smith

Pete Smith

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.

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Movies starring Pete Smith (151)

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (2002)

Self (Archive Footage) (Uncredited)

The Fall Guy (1955)

Narrator (Voice)

Animals in Action (1955)

Narrator (Voice)

Just What I Needed (1955)

Narrator

The Man Around the House (1955)

Narrator (Voice)

Rough Riding (1954)

Narrator

The Camera Caught It (1954)

Narrator

Film Antics (1954)

Narrator

Out for Fun (1954)

Narrator

Do Someone a Favor! (1954)

Narrator (Voice)

Fish Tales (1954)

Narrator (Voice)

Ain't It Aggravatin' (1954)

Narrator (Voice)

Things We Can Do Without (1953)

Narrator (Voice)

This Is a Living? (1953)

Narrator (Voice)

Cash Stashers (1953)

Narrator (Voice)

Dogs 'n Ducks (1953)

Narrator (Voice)

Reducing (1952)

Narrator (Voice)

Musiquiz (1952)

Narrator (Voice)

Fishing Feats (1951)

Narrator (Voice)

Bargain Madness (1951)

Narrator (Voice)

Camera Sleuth (1951)

Narrator (Voice)

Curious Contests (1950)

Narrator (Voice) (As A Smith Named Pete)

Wrong Way Butch (1950)

Narrator (Voice)

A Wife's Life (1950)

Narrator (Voice)

Did'ja Know? (1950)

Narrator (Voice)

Crashing the Movies (1950)

Narrator (Voice)

Pest Control (1950)

Narrator

Sports Oddities (1949)

Narrator

We Can Dream, Can't We? (1949)

Narrator

Water Trix (1949)

Narrator (Voice)

Those Good Old Days (1949)

Narrator

Super Cue Men (1949)

Narrator

Let's Cogitate (1948)

Narrator (Voice

Ice Aces (1948)

Narrator (Voice)

Just Suppose (1948)

Narrator (Voice)

You Can't Win (1948)

Narrator (Voice)

I Love My Mother-In-Law But... (1948)

Narrator (Voice)

Bowling Tricks (1948)

Narrator(Voice)

Have You Ever Wondered? (1947)

Narrator (Voice)

Neighbor Pests (1947)

Narrator

I Love My Wife BUT! (1947)

Narrator (Voice)

Now You See It (1947)

Narrator (Voice)

Diamond Demon (1947)

Narrator (Voice)

Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12 (1947)

Narrator

I Love My Husband, But! (1946)

Narrator (Voice)

Sure Cures (1946)

Narrator (Voice)

Treasures from Trash (1946)

Narrator (Voice)

Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 (1946)

Narrator (Voice)

Studio Visit (1946)

Narrator (Voice)

Gettin' Glamour (1946)

Narrator (Voice)

Badminton (1945)

Narrator (Voice)

Guest Pests (1945)

Narrator

Football Thrills of 1944 (1945)

Narrator

Hollywood Scout (1945)

Narrator / Chimp (Voice)

The Great Morgan (1945)

Narrator In 'Badminton' (Voice) (Archive Footage) (Uncredited)

Safety Sleuth (1944)

Pete Smith - Narrator

Movie Pests (1944)

Narrator (Voice)

Sportsman's Memories (1944)

Narrator (Voice)

Groovie Movie (1944)

Narrator

Water Wisdom (1943)

Narrator(Voice)

Seventh Column (1943)

Narrator (Voice)

Seeing Hands (1943)

Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Fala: The President's Dog (1943)

Narrator - Host

Hollywood Daredevils (1943)

Narrator

Marines in the Making (1942)

Narrator (Voice)

The Tree in a Test Tube (1942)

As Interlocutor (Voice)

Calling All Pa's (1942)

Narrator (Voice)

Victory Quiz (1942)
Acro-Batty (1942)

Narrator

Aqua Antics (1942)

Narrator (Voice)

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Fancy Answers (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Army Champions (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Flicker Memories (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Football Thrills of 1940 (1941)

Narrator

Water Bugs (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Cuban Rhythm (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Lions on the Loose (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Aeronutics (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Memory Tricks (1941)
Third Dimensional Murder (1941)

Narrator (Voice)

Wedding Bills (1940)

Narrator (Voice)

Quicker'n a Wink (1940)

Narrator (Voice)

The Domineering Male (1940)

Narrator (Voice)

Stuffie (1940)
Let's Talk Turkey (1939)

Narrator

Set 'em Up (1939)

Narrator

Take a Cue (1939)

Narrator (Voice)

Poetry of Nature (1939)

Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Radio Hams (1939)

Narrator (Voice)

Weather Wizards (1939)

Narrator (Voice)

Marine Circus (1939)

Narrator

Heroes at Leisure (1939)

Narrator (Voice)

Double Diving (1939)

Narrator

Penny's Picnic (1938)
Man's Greatest Friend (1938)

Narrator

Hot on Ice (1938)

Narrator

Grid Rules (1938)

Narrator

Football Thrills of 1937 (1938)

Narrator

Fisticuffs (1938)

Narrator (Voice)

Anaesthesia (1938)

Narrator

Penny's Party (1938)

Narrator

Three on a Rope (1938)

Narrator

The New Audioscopiks (1938)

Narrator

Friend Indeed (1937)

Narrator

Candid Cameramaniacs (1937)

Narrator

Romance of Radium (1937)

Narrator (Voice)

Pigskin Champions (1937)

Narrator (Voice)

Equestrian Acrobats (1937)

Narrator (Voice)

The Grand Bounce (1937)

Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Penny Wisdom (1937)

Narrator (Voice)

Bar-Rac's Night Out (1937)

Narrator (Voice)

Dexterity (1937)

Narrator

Wanted - A Master (1936)

Narrator (Voice) / Dog (Voice)

Hurling (1936)

Narrator

Killer Dog (1936)

Narrator (Voice)

Harnessed Rhythm (1936)

Narrator (Voice)

The Jonker Diamond (1936)

Narrator (Voice)

Let's Dance (1936)

Narrator (Voice)

Audioscopiks (1935)

Commentator (Voice)

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara (1935)

Narrator (Voice)

Water Sports (1935)

Narrator (Voice)

Trained Hoofs (1935)

Narrator (Voice)

Donkey Baseball (1935)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Ten (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Nine (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Strikes and Spares (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Eight (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Pro Football (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Seven (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Six (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Five (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Four (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Manhattan Melodrama (1934)

Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (Uncredited)

Goofy Movies Number Three (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number Two (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Roping Wild Bears (1934)

Narrator (Voice)

Goofy Movies Number One (1933)

Narrator (Voice)

Fine Feathers (1933)

Narrator

Menu (1933)

Narrator (Voice)

Handlebars (1933)

Narrator (Voice)

Inflation (1933)

Narrator (Voice)

Throttle Pushers (1933)

Narrator(Voice)

Swing High (1932)

Narrator (Voice)

Microscopic Mysteries (1932)

Narrator (Voice)

Desert Regatta (1932)

Narrator (Voice)

Snow Birds (1932)

Narrator (Voice)

Color Scales (1932)

Narrator (Voice)

Olympic Events (1932)

Narrator (Voice)

Wild and Woolly (1931)

Narrator (Voice)

Trader Hound (1931)

Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Movies Made by Pete Smith (95)

The Fall Guy (1955)

Producer

Animals in Action (1955)

Producer

Just What I Needed (1955)

Producer

The Man Around the House (1955)

Producer

Film Antics (1954)

Producer

Do Someone a Favor! (1954)

Producer

Fish Tales (1954)

Producer

Ain't It Aggravatin' (1954)

Producer

Things We Can Do Without (1953)

Producer

This Is a Living? (1953)

Producer

Cash Stashers (1953)

Producer

Dogs 'n Ducks (1953)

Producer

Reducing (1952)

Producer

Musiquiz (1952)

Producer

Fishing Feats (1951)

Producer

Bargain Madness (1951)

Producer

Camera Sleuth (1951)

Producer

Curious Contests (1950)

Producer

Wrong Way Butch (1950)

Producer

A Wife's Life (1950)

Producer

Did'ja Know? (1950)

Producer

Crashing the Movies (1950)

Producer

Water Trix (1949)

Producer

Let's Cogitate (1948)

Producer

Ice Aces (1948)

Producer

Just Suppose (1948)

Producer

You Can't Win (1948)

Producer

I Love My Mother-In-Law But... (1948)

Producer

Have You Ever Wondered? (1947)

Producer

Neighbor Pests (1947)

Producer

I Love My Wife BUT! (1947)

Producer

Now You See It (1947)

Producer

I Love My Husband, But! (1946)

Producer

Sure Cures (1946)

Producer

Treasures from Trash (1946)

Producer

Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 (1946)

Producer

Studio Visit (1946)

Producer

Gettin' Glamour (1946)

Producer

Badminton (1945)

Producer

Football Thrills of 1944 (1945)

Director

Hollywood Scout (1945)

Producer

Movie Pests (1944)

Producer

Seventh Column (1943)

Producer

Seeing Hands (1943)

Producer

Marines in the Making (1942)

Producer

Calling All Pa's (1942)

Producer

Acro-Batty (1942)

Producer

Aqua Antics (1942)

Producer

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK (1941)

Producer

Fancy Answers (1941)

Producer

Army Champions (1941)

Producer

Cuban Rhythm (1941)

Producer

Lions on the Loose (1941)

Producer

Third Dimensional Murder (1941)

Producer

Quicker'n a Wink (1940)

Producer

Heroes at Leisure (1939)

Producer

Man's Greatest Friend (1938)

Producer

Hot on Ice (1938)

Producer

Grid Rules (1938)

Producer

Football Thrills of 1937 (1938)

Director

Anaesthesia (1938)

Producer

Penny's Party (1938)

Producer

Romance of Radium (1937)

Producer

Penny Wisdom (1937)

Producer

Bar-Rac's Night Out (1937)

Producer

Dexterity (1937)

Producer

Wanted - A Master (1936)

Producer

Killer Dog (1936)

Producer

Harnessed Rhythm (1936)

Producer

The Jonker Diamond (1936)

Producer

Audioscopiks (1935)

Producer

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara (1935)

Producer

Water Sports (1935)

Producer

Trained Hoofs (1935)

Writer

Donkey Baseball (1935)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Ten (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Nine (1934)

Producer

Strikes and Spares (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Eight (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Seven (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Six (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Five (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Four (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Three (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number Two (1934)

Producer

Goofy Movies Number One (1933)

Producer

Fine Feathers (1933)

Producer

Menu (1933)

Producer

Handlebars (1933)

Producer

Inflation (1933)

Producer

Microscopic Mysteries (1932)

Producer

Desert Regatta (1932)

Producer

Color Scales (1932)

Producer

Olympic Events (1932)

Producer

Wild and Woolly (1931)

Producer

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