Pete Smith

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

169

Gender

Male

Birthday

1892-09-04

Day of death

1979-01-12 (86 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

Pete Smith

Biography

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.

Known For

  • Candid Cameramaniacs

    Candid Cameramaniacs

  • Badminton

    Badminton

  • Gettin' Glamour

    Gettin' Glamour

  • Surfboard Rhythm

    Surfboard Rhythm

  • Fish Tales

    Fish Tales

  • Trained Hoofs

    Trained Hoofs

  • Manhattan Melodrama

    Manhattan Melodrama

  • Things We Can Do Without

    Things We Can Do Without

  • Seeing Hands

    Seeing Hands

  • Reducing

    Reducing

  • Sure Cures

    Sure Cures

  • Marine Circus

    Marine Circus

  • Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story

    Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story

  • Harnessed Rhythm

    Harnessed Rhythm

  • Culinary Carving

    Culinary Carving

  • Seventh Column

    Seventh Column

  • Killer Dog

    Killer Dog

  • La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

    La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

  • Wedding Bills

    Wedding Bills

  • Camera Sleuth

    Camera Sleuth

  • Swing High

    Swing High

  • Penny Wisdom

    Penny Wisdom

  • Just Suppose

    Just Suppose

  • The Great Morgan

    The Great Morgan

  • Musiquiz

    Musiquiz

  • Water Trix

    Water Trix

  • Grid Rules

    Grid Rules

  • Curious Contests

    Curious Contests

  • Fishing Feats

    Fishing Feats

  • The Jonker Diamond

    The Jonker Diamond

  • Did'ja Know?

    Did'ja Know?

  • Bargain Madness

    Bargain Madness

  • The Tree in a Test Tube

    The Tree in a Test Tube

  • Hollywood Scout

    Hollywood Scout

  • Goofy Movies Number Two

    Goofy Movies Number Two

  • The Grand Bounce

    The Grand Bounce

  • Just What I Needed

    Just What I Needed

  • Film Antics

    Film Antics

  • Aqua Antics

    Aqua Antics

  • Acro-Batty

    Acro-Batty

  • Have You Ever Wondered?

    Have You Ever Wondered?

  • Fancy Answers

    Fancy Answers

  • Third Dimensional Murder

    Third Dimensional Murder

  • Army Champions

    Army Champions

  • Cuban Rhythm

    Cuban Rhythm

  • Strikes and Spares

    Strikes and Spares

  • Quicker'n a Wink

    Quicker'n a Wink

  • Wrong Way Butch

    Wrong Way Butch

  • Calling All Pa's

    Calling All Pa's

  • Let's Cogitate

    Let's Cogitate

  • Football Thrills of 1937

    Football Thrills of 1937

  • Victory Quiz

    Victory Quiz

  • 'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two

    'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two

  • Fala: The President's Dog

    Fala: The President's Dog

  • Pro Football

    Pro Football

  • Hollywood Daredevils

    Hollywood Daredevils

  • I Love My Husband, But!

    I Love My Husband, But!

  • Anaesthesia

    Anaesthesia

  • Microscopic Mysteries

    Microscopic Mysteries

  • Fine Feathers

    Fine Feathers

  • Inflation

    Inflation

  • Wanted - A Master

    Wanted - A Master

  • I Love My Wife BUT!

    I Love My Wife BUT!

  • Romance of Radium

    Romance of Radium

  • Bowling Tricks

    Bowling Tricks

  • Treasures from Trash

    Treasures from Trash

  • Menu

    Menu

  • Let's Talk Turkey

    Let's Talk Turkey

  • Spots Before Your Eyes

    Spots Before Your Eyes

  • Penny To the Rescue

    Penny To the Rescue

  • Guest Pests

    Guest Pests

  • The Man Around the House

    The Man Around the House

  • The Fall Guy

    The Fall Guy

  • Diamond Demon

    Diamond Demon

  • Weather Wizards

    Weather Wizards

  • The Domineering Male

    The Domineering Male

  • Animals in Action

    Animals in Action

  • Neighbor Pests

    Neighbor Pests

  • A Wife's Life

    A Wife's Life

  • This Is a Living?

    This Is a Living?

  • Ice Aces

    Ice Aces

  • Radio Hams

    Radio Hams

  • Handlebars

    Handlebars

  • Safety Sleuth

    Safety Sleuth

  • Now You See It

    Now You See It

  • Studio Visit

    Studio Visit

  • Social Sea Lions

    Social Sea Lions

  • Dogs 'n Ducks

    Dogs 'n Ducks

  • Wild and Woolly

    Wild and Woolly

  • Equestrian Acrobats

    Equestrian Acrobats

  • Snow Birds

    Snow Birds

  • I Love My Mother-In-Law But...

    I Love My Mother-In-Law But...

  • Hurling

    Hurling

  • Color Scales

    Color Scales

  • Dexterity

    Dexterity

  • Friend Indeed

    Friend Indeed

  • Memory Tricks

    Memory Tricks

  • Marines in the Making

    Marines in the Making

  • Desert Regatta

    Desert Regatta

  • Throttle Pushers

    Throttle Pushers

  • Trader Hound

    Trader Hound

  • Stuffie

    Stuffie

  • Crashing the Movies

    Crashing the Movies

  • Football Thrills of 1940

    Football Thrills of 1940

  • Penny's Picnic

    Penny's Picnic

  • Take a Cue

    Take a Cue

  • Water Bugs

    Water Bugs

  • Water Wisdom

    Water Wisdom

  • Olympic Events

    Olympic Events

  • Water Sports

    Water Sports

  • Double Diving

    Double Diving

  • Aeronutics

    Aeronutics

  • Rough Riding

    Rough Riding

  • Do Someone a Favor!

    Do Someone a Favor!

  • Audioscopiks

    Audioscopiks

  • Pigskin Champions

    Pigskin Champions

  • What About Daddy?

    What About Daddy?

  • Roping Wild Bears

    Roping Wild Bears

  • Fisticuffs

    Fisticuffs

  • Flicker Memories

    Flicker Memories

  • We Can Dream, Can't We?

    We Can Dream, Can't We?

  • The Mosconi Story

    The Mosconi Story

  • Heroes at Leisure

    Heroes at Leisure

  • Ain't It Aggravatin'

    Ain't It Aggravatin'

  • Penny's Party

    Penny's Party

  • Fala at Hyde Park

    Fala at Hyde Park

  • Groovie Movie

    Groovie Movie

  • Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11

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

  • Sportsman's Memories

    Sportsman's Memories

  • Those Good Old Days

    Those Good Old Days

  • Super Cue Men

    Super Cue Men

  • Set 'em Up

    Set 'em Up

  • Sports Oddities

    Sports Oddities

  • Football Thrills of 1939

    Football Thrills of 1939

  • Football Thrills No. 10

    Football Thrills No. 10

  • Football Thrills of 1942

    Football Thrills of 1942

  • Home Maid

    Home Maid

  • Goofy Movies Number One

    Goofy Movies Number One

  • Man's Greatest Friend

    Man's Greatest Friend

  • Let's Dance

    Let's Dance

  • Football Thrills of 1943

    Football Thrills of 1943

  • Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12

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

  • Three on a Rope

    Three on a Rope

  • Football Thrills No. 9

    Football Thrills No. 9

  • Goofy Movies Number Four

    Goofy Movies Number Four

  • Out for Fun

    Out for Fun

  • The New Audioscopiks

    The New Audioscopiks

  • Bar-Rac's Night Out

    Bar-Rac's Night Out

  • Hot on Ice

    Hot on Ice

  • Goofy Movies Number Seven

    Goofy Movies Number Seven

  • The Camera Caught It

    The Camera Caught It

  • Goofy Movies Number Six

    Goofy Movies Number Six

  • Football Thrills of 1944

    Football Thrills of 1944

  • Goofy Movies Number Three

    Goofy Movies Number Three

  • Goofy Movies Number Eight

    Goofy Movies Number Eight

  • Goofy Movies Number Five

    Goofy Movies Number Five

  • Football Thrills of 1938

    Football Thrills of 1938

  • Poetry of Nature

    Poetry of Nature

  • Football Thrills of 1941

    Football Thrills of 1941

  • Donkey Baseball

    Donkey Baseball

  • Goofy Movies Number Nine

    Goofy Movies Number Nine

  • How to Hold Your Husband - BACK

    How to Hold Your Husband - BACK

  • Goofy Movies Number Ten

    Goofy Movies Number Ten

  • Movie Pests

    Movie Pests

  • Lions on the Loose

    Lions on the Loose

  • Please Answer (I.Q. #3)

    Please Answer (I.Q. #3)

  • Cash Stashers

    Cash Stashers

  • Maintain the Right

    Maintain the Right

  • You Can't Win

    You Can't Win