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Pete Smith‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1892-09-04

Popularity

star2.4

Pete Smith

New York City, New York, USA

Pete Smith

New York City, New York, USA

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1892-09-04

Popularity

star2.4

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.

Movie Credits

Killer Dog

Killer Dog‌
star5.4
calendar 1936

Let's Cogitate

Let's Cogitate‌
star0.0
calendar 1948

Those Good Old Days

Those Good Old Days‌
star0.0
calendar 1949

Water Wisdom

Water Wisdom‌
star0.0
calendar 1943

Marine Circus

Marine Circus‌
star5.0
calendar 1939

Throttle Pushers

Throttle Pushers‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

Neighbor Pests

Neighbor Pests‌
star0.0
calendar 1947

Film Antics

Film Antics‌
star5.0
calendar 1954

Menu

Menu‌
star5.1
calendar 1933

Inflation

Inflation‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

Romance of Radium

Romance of Radium‌
star5.8
calendar 1937

Strikes and Spares

Strikes and Spares‌
star5.7
calendar 1934

Goofy Movies Number Seven

Goofy Movies Number Seven‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

Penny Wisdom

Penny Wisdom‌
star5.4
calendar 1937

Friend Indeed

Friend Indeed‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

Pigskin Champions

Pigskin Champions‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

The New Audioscopiks

The New Audioscopiks‌
star6.0
calendar 1938

Fisticuffs

Fisticuffs‌
star6.0
calendar 1938

Three on a Rope

Three on a Rope‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Guest Pests

Guest Pests‌
star0.0
calendar 1945

Out for Fun

Out for Fun‌
star0.0
calendar 1954

Swing High

Swing High‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

Super Cue Men

Super Cue Men‌
star0.0
calendar 1949

Double Diving

Double Diving‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

The Tree in a Test Tube

The Tree in a Test Tube‌
star4.9
calendar 1942

Hurling

Hurling‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

Diamond Demon

Diamond Demon‌
star8.0
calendar 1947

Stuffie

Stuffie‌
star0.0
calendar 1940

The Grand Bounce

The Grand Bounce‌
star6.5
calendar 1937

Let's Talk Turkey

Let's Talk Turkey‌
star5.0
calendar 1939

Set 'em Up

Set 'em Up‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Radio Hams

Radio Hams‌
star6.0
calendar 1939

Trader Hound

Trader Hound‌
star6.0
calendar 1931

Fala: The President's Dog

Fala: The President's Dog‌
star6.0
calendar 1943

Hollywood Daredevils

Hollywood Daredevils‌
star0.0
calendar 1943

The Jonker Diamond

The Jonker Diamond‌
star4.5
calendar 1936

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story‌
star0.0
calendar 2002

We Can Dream, Can't We?

We Can Dream, Can't We?‌
star0.0
calendar 1949

Ain't It Aggravatin'

Ain't It Aggravatin'‌
star6.0
calendar 1954

Goofy Movies Number Six

Goofy Movies Number Six‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

Goofy Movies Number Ten

Goofy Movies Number Ten‌
star0.0
calendar 1934

Goofy Movies Number Eight

Goofy Movies Number Eight‌
star6.0
calendar 1934

Take a Cue

Take a Cue‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Goofy Movies Number One

Goofy Movies Number One‌
star5.7
calendar 1933

Things We Can Do Without

Things We Can Do Without‌
star8.0
calendar 1953

Did'ja Know?

Did'ja Know?‌
star6.0
calendar 1950

Goofy Movies Number Four

Goofy Movies Number Four‌
star3.5
calendar 1934

Goofy Movies Number Five

Goofy Movies Number Five‌
star0.0
calendar 1934

Handlebars

Handlebars‌
star5.5
calendar 1933

Wedding Bills

Wedding Bills‌
star8.0
calendar 1940

Third Dimensional Murder

Third Dimensional Murder‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Goofy Movies Number Two

Goofy Movies Number Two‌
star6.3
calendar 1934

Goofy Movies Number Three

Goofy Movies Number Three‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

Goofy Movies Number Nine

Goofy Movies Number Nine‌
star6.0
calendar 1934

Let's Dance

Let's Dance‌
star6.0
calendar 1936

Candid Cameramaniacs

Candid Cameramaniacs‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

Bar-Rac's Night Out

Bar-Rac's Night Out‌
star6.0
calendar 1937

Sure Cures

Sure Cures‌
star5.0
calendar 1946

Wanted - A Master

Wanted - A Master‌
star6.2
calendar 1936

Fishing Feats

Fishing Feats‌
star0.0
calendar 1951

The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy‌
star6.0
calendar 1955

Movie Pests

Movie Pests‌
star5.6
calendar 1944

I Love My Husband, But!

I Love My Husband, But!‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

Weather Wizards

Weather Wizards‌
star6.0
calendar 1939

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

'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two‌
star0.0
calendar 1940

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

Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

Roping Wild Bears

Roping Wild Bears‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

Fancy Answers

Fancy Answers‌
star4.0
calendar 1941

Seeing Hands

Seeing Hands‌
star5.3
calendar 1943

Water Trix

Water Trix‌
star5.6
calendar 1949

Aeronutics

Aeronutics‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

I Love My Wife BUT!

I Love My Wife BUT!‌
star7.5
calendar 1947

A Wife's Life

A Wife's Life‌
star6.0
calendar 1950

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

I Love My Mother-In-Law But...‌
star7.3
calendar 1948

Cash Stashers

Cash Stashers‌
star6.0
calendar 1953

Camera Sleuth

Camera Sleuth‌
star5.0
calendar 1951

Just What I Needed

Just What I Needed‌
star0.0
calendar 1955

Sports Oddities

Sports Oddities‌
star0.0
calendar 1949

Snow Birds

Snow Birds‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

The Man Around the House

The Man Around the House‌
star0.0
calendar 1955

Wrong Way Butch

Wrong Way Butch‌
star5.8
calendar 1950

You Can't Win

You Can't Win‌
star3.7
calendar 1948

Do Someone a Favor!

Do Someone a Favor!‌
star0.0
calendar 1954

Donkey Baseball

Donkey Baseball‌
star5.0
calendar 1935

Acro-Batty

Acro-Batty‌
star0.0
calendar 1942

Hollywood Scout

Hollywood Scout‌
star0.0
calendar 1945

The Great Morgan

The Great Morgan‌
star5.5
calendar 1945

Just Suppose

Just Suppose‌
star6.0
calendar 1948

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK‌
star7.0
calendar 1941

Gettin' Glamour

Gettin' Glamour‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

Reducing

Reducing‌
star2.0
calendar 1952

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

Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12‌
star0.0
calendar 1947

Water Sports

Water Sports‌
star0.0
calendar 1935

Fine Feathers

Fine Feathers‌
star5.0
calendar 1933

The Camera Caught It

The Camera Caught It‌
star0.0
calendar 1954

Animals in Action

Animals in Action‌
star0.0
calendar 1955

Rough Riding

Rough Riding‌
star0.0
calendar 1954

Have You Ever Wondered?

Have You Ever Wondered?‌
star0.0
calendar 1947

Bargain Madness

Bargain Madness‌
star7.0
calendar 1951

Dogs 'n Ducks

Dogs 'n Ducks‌
star0.0
calendar 1953

Victory Quiz

Victory Quiz‌
star6.0
calendar 1942

Calling All Pa's

Calling All Pa's‌
star6.0
calendar 1942

Harnessed Rhythm

Harnessed Rhythm‌
star4.0
calendar 1936

Lions on the Loose

Lions on the Loose‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Crashing the Movies

Crashing the Movies‌
star0.0
calendar 1950

Ice Aces

Ice Aces‌
star5.0
calendar 1948

Musiquiz

Musiquiz‌
star1.0
calendar 1952

Fish Tales

Fish Tales‌
star5.0
calendar 1954

Microscopic Mysteries

Microscopic Mysteries‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

Heroes at Leisure

Heroes at Leisure‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Flicker Memories

Flicker Memories‌
star5.0
calendar 1941

Audioscopiks

Audioscopiks‌
star4.6
calendar 1935

Now You See It

Now You See It‌
star5.8
calendar 1947

Quicker'n a Wink

Quicker'n a Wink‌
star6.3
calendar 1940

Army Champions

Army Champions‌
star5.5
calendar 1941

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara‌
star5.7
calendar 1935

Marines in the Making

Marines in the Making‌
star5.0
calendar 1942

Safety Sleuth

Safety Sleuth‌
star0.0
calendar 1944

Groovie Movie

Groovie Movie‌
star6.2
calendar 1944

The Domineering Male

The Domineering Male‌
star6.0
calendar 1940

Color Scales

Color Scales‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

Treasures from Trash

Treasures from Trash‌
star8.0
calendar 1946

Trained Hoofs

Trained Hoofs‌
star0.0
calendar 1935

Football Thrills of 1940

Football Thrills of 1940‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Football Thrills of 1944

Football Thrills of 1944‌
star5.0
calendar 1945

Manhattan Melodrama

Manhattan Melodrama‌
star7.0
calendar 1934

Seventh Column

Seventh Column‌
star0.0
calendar 1943

Equestrian Acrobats

Equestrian Acrobats‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

Pro Football

Pro Football‌
star0.0
calendar 1934

Desert Regatta

Desert Regatta‌
star4.5
calendar 1932

Badminton

Badminton‌
star0.0
calendar 1945

Wild and Woolly

Wild and Woolly‌
star0.0
calendar 1931

This Is a Living?

This Is a Living?‌
star0.0
calendar 1953

Water Bugs

Water Bugs‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Studio Visit

Studio Visit‌
star3.5
calendar 1946

Sportsman's Memories

Sportsman's Memories‌
star0.0
calendar 1944

Aqua Antics

Aqua Antics‌
star5.0
calendar 1942

Olympic Events

Olympic Events‌
star0.0
calendar 1932

Cuban Rhythm

Cuban Rhythm‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Curious Contests

Curious Contests‌
star0.0
calendar 1950

Hot on Ice

Hot on Ice‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Grid Rules

Grid Rules‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Penny's Party

Penny's Party‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Dexterity

Dexterity‌
star0.0
calendar 1937

Man's Greatest Friend

Man's Greatest Friend‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Football Thrills of 1937

Football Thrills of 1937‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Penny's Picnic

Penny's Picnic‌
star0.0
calendar 1938

Poetry of Nature

Poetry of Nature‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Bowling Tricks

Bowling Tricks‌
star0.0
calendar 1948

Memory Tricks

Memory Tricks‌
star0.0
calendar 1941

Culinary Carving

Culinary Carving‌
star0.0
calendar 1939

Tv Credits