Acting
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.
Filmography
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Film · 2002
MGM Parade
Series · 1955
MGM Parade
Series · 1955
Film Antics
Film · 1954
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Film · 1954
Rough Riding
Film · 1954
Fish Tales
Film · 1954
Things We Can Do Without
Film · 1953
Cash Stashers
Film · 1953
Dogs 'n Ducks
Film · 1953
This Is a Living?
Film · 1953
Reducing
Film · 1952
Fishing Feats
Film · 1951
Camera Sleuth
Film · 1951
Bargain Madness
Film · 1951
Did'ja Know?
Film · 1950
Wrong Way Butch
Film · 1950
Crashing the Movies
Film · 1950
Curious Contests
Film · 1950
Water Trix
Film · 1949
Sports Oddities
Film · 1949
Let's Cogitate
Film · 1948
You Can't Win
Film · 1948
Just Suppose
Film · 1948
Ice Aces
Film · 1948
Bowling Tricks
Film · 1948
Diamond Demon
Film · 1947
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
Film · 1947
Now You See It
Film · 1947
Sure Cures
Film · 1946
Treasures from Trash
Film · 1946
Studio Visit
Film · 1946
Fala at Hyde Park
Film · 1946
Hollywood Scout
Film · 1945
The Great Morgan
Film · 1945
Movie Pests
Film · 1944
Groovie Movie
Film · 1944
Water Wisdom
Film · 1943
Fala: The President's Dog
Film · 1943
Hollywood Daredevils
Film · 1943
Seeing Hands
Film · 1943
Seventh Column
Film · 1943
The Tree in a Test Tube
Film · 1942
Acro-Batty
Film · 1942
Victory Quiz
Film · 1942
Calling All Pa's
Film · 1942
Marines in the Making
Film · 1942
Aqua Antics
Film · 1942
What About Daddy?
Film · 1942
Third Dimensional Murder
Film · 1941
Fancy Answers
Film · 1941
Aeronutics
Film · 1941
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Film · 1941
Flicker Memories
Film · 1941
Army Champions
Film · 1941
Cuban Rhythm
Film · 1941
Wedding Bills
Film · 1940
Quicker'n a Wink
Film · 1940
The Domineering Male
Film · 1940
Spots Before Your Eyes
Film · 1940
Marine Circus
Film · 1939
Radio Hams
Film · 1939
Take a Cue
Film · 1939
Weather Wizards
Film · 1939
Heroes at Leisure
Film · 1939
Poetry of Nature
Film · 1939
Culinary Carving
Film · 1939
The New Audioscopiks
Film · 1938
Fisticuffs
Film · 1938
Three on a Rope
Film · 1938
Anaesthesia
Film · 1938
Romance of Radium
Film · 1937
Penny Wisdom
Film · 1937
Friend Indeed
Film · 1937
Pigskin Champions
Film · 1937
The Grand Bounce
Film · 1937
Candid Cameramaniacs
Film · 1937
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Film · 1937
Equestrian Acrobats
Film · 1937
Killer Dog
Film · 1936
Hurling
Film · 1936
The Jonker Diamond
Film · 1936
Wanted - A Master
Film · 1936
Harnessed Rhythm
Film · 1936
Donkey Baseball
Film · 1935
Water Sports
Film · 1935
Audioscopiks
Film · 1935
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Film · 1935
Trained Hoofs
Film · 1935
Strikes and Spares
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Six
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Four
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Five
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Two
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Three
Film · 1934
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Film · 1934
Roping Wild Bears
Film · 1934
Manhattan Melodrama
Film · 1934
Pro Football
Film · 1934
Throttle Pushers
Film · 1933
Menu
Film · 1933
Inflation
Film · 1933
Goofy Movies Number One
Film · 1933
Handlebars
Film · 1933
Swing High
Film · 1932
Snow Birds
Film · 1932
Color Scales
Film · 1932
Desert Regatta
Film · 1932
Trader Hound
Film · 1931
Wild and Woolly
Film · 1931