Known For
Acting
Born
Sep 04, 1892
Died
Jan 12, 1979
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Credits
171 titles
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
Filmography
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MGM Parade
The Fall Guy
Narrator (voice)
Animals in Action
Narrator (voice)
Just What I Needed
Narrator
The Man Around the House
Narrator (voice)
Rough Riding
Narrator
The Camera Caught It
Narrator
Film Antics
Narrator
Out for Fun
Narrator
Do Someone a Favor!
Narrator (voice)
Fish Tales
Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
Narrator (voice)
This Is a Living?
Narrator (voice)
Cash Stashers
Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
Narrator (voice)
The Mosconi Story
Narrator
Reducing
Narrator (voice)
Musiquiz
Narrator (voice)
Fishing Feats
Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
Narrator (voice)
Camera Sleuth
Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Wrong Way Butch
Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
Narrator (voice)
Did'ja Know?
Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
Narrator (voice)
Pest Control
Narrator
Sports Oddities
Narrator
We Can Dream, Can't We?
Narrator
Water Trix
Narrator (voice)
Those Good Old Days
Narrator
Super Cue Men
Narrator
Let's Cogitate
Narrator (voice
Ice Aces
Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
Narrator (voice)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Narrator (voice)
Bowling Tricks
Narrator(voice)
Have You Ever Wondered?
Narrator (voice)
Surfboard Rhythm
Narrator
Football Thrills No. 10
Neighbor Pests
Narrator
I Love My Wife BUT!
Narrator (voice)
Now You See It
Narrator (voice)
Diamond Demon
Narrator (voice)
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
Narrator
I Love My Husband, But!
Narrator (voice)
Sure Cures
Narrator (voice)