Pete Smith
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Sep 4, 1892
- Died
- Jan 12, 1979 (aged 86)
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Credits
- 171
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
Manhattan Melodrama
1934Movie
Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942Movie
as Interlocutor (voice)
Strikes and Spares
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
1940Movie
Narrator (voice)
Romance of Radium
1937Movie
Narrator (voice)
Menu
1933Movie
Narrator (voice)
Filmography
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MGM Parade
1955TV
Self
The Fall Guy
1955Movie
Narrator (voice)
Animals in Action
1955Movie
Narrator (voice)
Just What I Needed
1955Movie
Narrator
The Man Around the House
1955Movie
Narrator (voice)
Rough Riding
1954Movie
Narrator
The Camera Caught It
1954Movie
Narrator
Film Antics
1954Movie
Narrator
Out for Fun
1954Movie
Narrator
Do Someone a Favor!
1954Movie
Narrator (voice)
Fish Tales
1954Movie
Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954Movie
Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
1953Movie
Narrator (voice)
This Is a Living?
1953Movie
Narrator (voice)
Cash Stashers
1953Movie
Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953Movie
Narrator (voice)
The Mosconi Story
1953Movie
Narrator
Reducing
1952Movie
Narrator (voice)
Musiquiz
1952Movie
Narrator (voice)
Fishing Feats
1951Movie
Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
1951Movie
Narrator (voice)
Camera Sleuth
1951Movie
Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
1950Movie
Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Wrong Way Butch
1950Movie
Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
1950Movie
Narrator (voice)
Did'ja Know?
1950Movie
Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
1950Movie
Narrator (voice)
Pest Control
1950Movie
Narrator
Sports Oddities
1949Movie
Narrator
We Can Dream, Can't We?
1949Movie
Narrator
Water Trix
1949Movie
Narrator (voice)
Those Good Old Days
1949Movie
Narrator
Super Cue Men
1949Movie
Narrator
Let's Cogitate
1948Movie
Narrator (voice
Ice Aces
1948Movie
Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
1948Movie
Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
1948Movie
Narrator (voice)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948Movie
Narrator (voice)
Bowling Tricks
1948Movie
Narrator(voice)
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947Movie
Narrator (voice)
Surfboard Rhythm
1947Movie
Narrator
Football Thrills No. 10
1947Movie
Neighbor Pests
1947Movie
Narrator
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947Movie
Narrator (voice)
Now You See It
1947Movie
Narrator (voice)
Diamond Demon
1947Movie
Narrator (voice)
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
1947Movie
Narrator
I Love My Husband, But!
1946Movie
Narrator (voice)
Sure Cures
1946Movie
Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills No. 9
1946Movie
Narrator
Treasures from Trash
1946Movie
Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946Movie
Narrator (voice)
Studio Visit
1946Movie
Narrator (voice)
Gettin' Glamour
1946Movie
Narrator (voice)
Fala at Hyde Park
1946Movie
Narrator
Badminton
1945Movie
Narrator (voice)
Guest Pests
1945Movie
Narrator
Football Thrills of 1944
1945Movie
Narrator
Hollywood Scout
1945Movie
Narrator / Chimp (voice)
The Great Morgan
1945Movie
Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Safety Sleuth
1944Movie
Pete Smith - Narrator
Football Thrills of 1943
1944Movie
Narrator
Movie Pests
1944Movie
Narrator (voice)
Sportsman's Memories
1944Movie
Narrator (voice)
Groovie Movie
1944Movie
Narrator
Home Maid
1944Movie
Narrator
Water Wisdom
1943Movie
Narrator(voice)
Football Thrills of 1942
1943Movie
Narrator
Seventh Column
1943Movie
Narrator (voice)
Seeing Hands
1943Movie
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Fala: The President's Dog
1943Movie
Narrator - Host
Hollywood Daredevils
1943Movie
Narrator
Marines in the Making
1942Movie
Narrator (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942Movie
as Interlocutor (voice)
Calling All Pa's
1942Movie
Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1941
1942Movie
Narrator
Victory Quiz
1942Movie
Acro-Batty
1942Movie
Narrator
What About Daddy?
1942Movie
Narrator
Aqua Antics
1942Movie
Narrator (voice)
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Army Champions
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Flicker Memories
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1940
1941Movie
Narrator
Water Bugs
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Lions on the Loose
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Aeronutics
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Memory Tricks
1941Movie
Third Dimensional Murder
1941Movie
Narrator (voice)
Penny To the Rescue
1941Movie
Narrator
Wedding Bills
1940Movie
Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
1940Movie
Narrator (voice)
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940Movie
Narrator
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
1940Movie
Narrator (voice)
Social Sea Lions
1940Movie
Narrator
Spots Before Your Eyes
1940Movie
Narrator
The Domineering Male
1940Movie
Narrator (voice)
Stuffie
1940Movie
Maintain the Right
1940Movie
Narrator
Let's Talk Turkey
1939Movie
Narrator
Set 'em Up
1939Movie
Narrator
Take a Cue
1939Movie
Narrator (voice)
Culinary Carving
1939Movie
Narrator
Poetry of Nature
1939Movie
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Radio Hams
1939Movie
Narrator (voice)
Weather Wizards
1939Movie
Narrator (voice)
Marine Circus
1939Movie
Narrator
Heroes at Leisure
1939Movie
Narrator (voice)
Double Diving
1939Movie
Narrator
Football Thrills of 1938
1939Movie
Narrator
Penny's Picnic
1938Movie
Man's Greatest Friend
1938Movie
Narrator
Hot on Ice
1938Movie
Narrator
Grid Rules
1938Movie
Narrator
Football Thrills of 1937
1938Movie
Narrator
Fisticuffs
1938Movie
Narrator (voice)
Anaesthesia
1938Movie
Narrator
Penny's Party
1938Movie
Narrator
Three on a Rope
1938Movie
Narrator
The New Audioscopiks
1938Movie
Narrator
Friend Indeed
1937Movie
Narrator
Candid Cameramaniacs
1937Movie
Narrator
Romance of Radium
1937Movie
Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
1937Movie
Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Acrobats
1937Movie
Narrator (voice)
The Grand Bounce
1937Movie
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Penny Wisdom
1937Movie
Narrator (voice)
Bar-Rac's Night Out
1937Movie
Narrator (voice)
Dexterity
1937Movie
Narrator
Wanted - A Master
1936Movie
Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Hurling
1936Movie
Narrator
Killer Dog
1936Movie
Narrator (voice)
Harnessed Rhythm
1936Movie
Narrator (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
1936Movie
Narrator (voice)
Let's Dance
1936Movie
Narrator (voice)
Audioscopiks
1935Movie
Commentator (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935Movie
Narrator (voice)
Water Sports
1935Movie
Narrator (voice)
Trained Hoofs
1935Movie
Narrator (voice)
Donkey Baseball
1935Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Ten
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Nine
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Strikes and Spares
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Eight
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Pro Football
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Seven
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Six
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Five
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Four
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Manhattan Melodrama
1934Movie
Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Goofy Movies Number Three
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Two
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Roping Wild Bears
1934Movie
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number One
1933Movie
Narrator (voice)
Fine Feathers
1933Movie
Narrator
Menu
1933Movie
Narrator (voice)
Handlebars
1933Movie
Narrator (voice)
Inflation
1933Movie
Narrator (voice)
Throttle Pushers
1933Movie
Narrator(voice)
Swing High
1932Movie
Narrator (voice)
Microscopic Mysteries
1932Movie
Narrator (voice)
Desert Regatta
1932Movie
Narrator (voice)
Snow Birds
1932Movie
Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
1932Movie
Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
1932Movie
Narrator (voice)
Wild and Woolly
1931Movie
Narrator (voice)
Trader Hound
1931Movie
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Football Thrills of 1939
Movie
Narrator