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Pete Smith

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.

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Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story

2002

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy

1955

as Narrator (voice)

Animals in Action

Animals in Action

1955

as Narrator (voice)

Just What I Needed

Just What I Needed

1955

as Narrator

The Man Around the House

The Man Around the House

1955

as Narrator (voice)

Rough Riding

Rough Riding

1954

as Narrator

The Camera Caught It

The Camera Caught It

1954

as Narrator

Film Antics

Film Antics

1954

as Narrator

Out for Fun

Out for Fun

1954

as Narrator

Do Someone a Favor!

Do Someone a Favor!

1954

as Narrator (voice)

Fish Tales

Fish Tales

1954

as Narrator (voice)

Ain't It Aggravatin'

Ain't It Aggravatin'

1954

as Narrator (voice)

Things We Can Do Without

Things We Can Do Without

1953

as Narrator (voice)

This Is a Living?

This Is a Living?

1953

as Narrator (voice)

Cash Stashers

Cash Stashers

1953

as Narrator (voice)

Dogs 'n Ducks

Dogs 'n Ducks

1953

as Narrator (voice)

The Mosconi Story

The Mosconi Story

1953

as Narrator

Reducing

Reducing

1952

as Narrator (voice)

Musiquiz

Musiquiz

1952

as Narrator (voice)

Fishing Feats

Fishing Feats

1951

as Narrator (voice)

Bargain Madness

Bargain Madness

1951

as Narrator (voice)

Camera Sleuth

Camera Sleuth

1951

as Narrator (voice)

Curious Contests

Curious Contests

1950

as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)

Wrong Way Butch

Wrong Way Butch

1950

as Narrator (voice)

A Wife's Life

A Wife's Life

1950

as Narrator (voice)

Did'ja Know?

Did'ja Know?

1950

as Narrator (voice)

Crashing the Movies

Crashing the Movies

1950

as Narrator (voice)

Sports Oddities

Sports Oddities

1949

as Narrator

We Can Dream, Can't We?

We Can Dream, Can't We?

1949

as Narrator

Water Trix

Water Trix

1949

as Narrator (voice)

Those Good Old Days

Those Good Old Days

1949

as Narrator

Super Cue Men

Super Cue Men

1949

as Narrator

Let's Cogitate

Let's Cogitate

1948

as Narrator (voice

Ice Aces

Ice Aces

1948

as Narrator (voice)

Just Suppose

Just Suppose

1948

as Narrator (voice)

You Can't Win

You Can't Win

1948

as Narrator (voice)

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

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

1948

as Narrator (voice)

Bowling Tricks

Bowling Tricks

1948

as Narrator(voice)

Have You Ever Wondered?

Have You Ever Wondered?

1947

as Narrator (voice)

Neighbor Pests

Neighbor Pests

1947

as Narrator

I Love My Wife BUT!

I Love My Wife BUT!

1947

as Narrator (voice)

Now You See It

Now You See It

1947

as Narrator (voice)

Diamond Demon

Diamond Demon

1947

as Narrator (voice)

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

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

1947

as Narrator

I Love My Husband, But!

I Love My Husband, But!

1946

as Narrator (voice)

Sure Cures

Sure Cures

1946

as Narrator (voice)

Treasures from Trash

Treasures from Trash

1946

as Narrator (voice)

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

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

1946

as Narrator (voice)

Studio Visit

Studio Visit

1946

as Narrator (voice)

Gettin' Glamour

Gettin' Glamour

1946

as Narrator (voice)

Badminton

Badminton

1945

as Narrator (voice)

Guest Pests

Guest Pests

1945

as Narrator

Football Thrills of 1944

Football Thrills of 1944

1945

as Narrator

Hollywood Scout

Hollywood Scout

1945

as Narrator / Chimp (voice)

The Great Morgan

The Great Morgan

1945

as Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)

Safety Sleuth

Safety Sleuth

1944

as Pete Smith - Narrator

Movie Pests

Movie Pests

1944

as Narrator (voice)

Sportsman's Memories

Sportsman's Memories

1944

as Narrator (voice)

Groovie Movie

Groovie Movie

1944

as Narrator

Home Maid

Home Maid

1944

as Narrator

Water Wisdom

Water Wisdom

1943

as Narrator(voice)

Seventh Column

Seventh Column

1943

as Narrator (voice)

Seeing Hands

Seeing Hands

1943

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Fala: The President's Dog

Fala: The President's Dog

1943

as Narrator - Host

Hollywood Daredevils

Hollywood Daredevils

1943

as Narrator

Marines in the Making

Marines in the Making

1942

as Narrator (voice)

The Tree in a Test Tube

The Tree in a Test Tube

1942

as as Interlocutor (voice)

Calling All Pa's

Calling All Pa's

1942

as Narrator (voice)

Victory Quiz

Victory Quiz

1942

Acro-Batty

Acro-Batty

1942

as Narrator

What About Daddy?

What About Daddy?

1942

as Narrator

Aqua Antics

Aqua Antics

1942

as Narrator (voice)

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Fancy Answers

Fancy Answers

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Army Champions

Army Champions

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Flicker Memories

Flicker Memories

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Football Thrills of 1940

Football Thrills of 1940

1941

as Narrator

Water Bugs

Water Bugs

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Cuban Rhythm

Cuban Rhythm

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Lions on the Loose

Lions on the Loose

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Aeronutics

Aeronutics

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Memory Tricks

Memory Tricks

1941

Third Dimensional Murder

Third Dimensional Murder

1941

as Narrator (voice)

Wedding Bills

Wedding Bills

1940

as Narrator (voice)

Quicker'n a Wink

Quicker'n a Wink

1940

as Narrator (voice)

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

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

1940

as Narrator (voice)

Spots Before Your Eyes

Spots Before Your Eyes

1940

as Narrator

The Domineering Male

The Domineering Male

1940

as Narrator (voice)

Stuffie

Stuffie

1940

Let's Talk Turkey

Let's Talk Turkey

1939

as Narrator

Set 'em Up

Set 'em Up

1939

as Narrator

Take a Cue

Take a Cue

1939

as Narrator (voice)

Culinary Carving

Culinary Carving

1939

as Narrator

Poetry of Nature

Poetry of Nature

1939

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Radio Hams

Radio Hams

1939

as Narrator (voice)

Weather Wizards

Weather Wizards

1939

as Narrator (voice)

Marine Circus

Marine Circus

1939

as Narrator

Heroes at Leisure

Heroes at Leisure

1939

as Narrator (voice)

Double Diving

Double Diving

1939

as Narrator

Penny's Picnic

Penny's Picnic

1938

Man's Greatest Friend

Man's Greatest Friend

1938

as Narrator

Hot on Ice

Hot on Ice

1938

as Narrator

Grid Rules

Grid Rules

1938

as Narrator

Football Thrills of 1937

Football Thrills of 1937

1938

as Narrator

Fisticuffs

Fisticuffs

1938

as Narrator (voice)

Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia

1938

as Narrator

Penny's Party

Penny's Party

1938

as Narrator

Three on a Rope

Three on a Rope

1938

as Narrator

The New Audioscopiks

The New Audioscopiks

1938

as Narrator

Friend Indeed

Friend Indeed

1937

as Narrator

Candid Cameramaniacs

Candid Cameramaniacs

1937

as Narrator

Romance of Radium

Romance of Radium

1937

as Narrator (voice)

Pigskin Champions

Pigskin Champions

1937

as Narrator (voice)

Equestrian Acrobats

Equestrian Acrobats

1937

as Narrator (voice)

The Grand Bounce

The Grand Bounce

1937

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Penny Wisdom

Penny Wisdom

1937

as Narrator (voice)

Bar-Rac's Night Out

Bar-Rac's Night Out

1937

as Narrator (voice)

Dexterity

Dexterity

1937

as Narrator

Wanted - A Master

Wanted - A Master

1936

as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)

Hurling

Hurling

1936

as Narrator

Killer Dog

Killer Dog

1936

as Narrator (voice)

Harnessed Rhythm

Harnessed Rhythm

1936

as Narrator (voice)

The Jonker Diamond

The Jonker Diamond

1936

as Narrator (voice)

Let's Dance

Let's Dance

1936

as Narrator (voice)

Audioscopiks

Audioscopiks

1935

as Commentator (voice)

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

1935

as Narrator (voice)

Water Sports

Water Sports

1935

as Narrator (voice)

Trained Hoofs

Trained Hoofs

1935

as Narrator (voice)

Donkey Baseball

Donkey Baseball

1935

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Ten

Goofy Movies Number Ten

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Nine

Goofy Movies Number Nine

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Strikes and Spares

Strikes and Spares

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Eight

Goofy Movies Number Eight

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Pro Football

Pro Football

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Seven

Goofy Movies Number Seven

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Six

Goofy Movies Number Six

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Five

Goofy Movies Number Five

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Four

Goofy Movies Number Four

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Manhattan Melodrama

Manhattan Melodrama

1934

as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)

Goofy Movies Number Three

Goofy Movies Number Three

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number Two

Goofy Movies Number Two

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Roping Wild Bears

Roping Wild Bears

1934

as Narrator (voice)

Goofy Movies Number One

Goofy Movies Number One

1933

as Narrator (voice)

Fine Feathers

Fine Feathers

1933

as Narrator

Menu

Menu

1933

as Narrator (voice)

Handlebars

Handlebars

1933

as Narrator (voice)

Inflation

Inflation

1933

as Narrator (voice)

Throttle Pushers

Throttle Pushers

1933

as Narrator(voice)

Swing High

Swing High

1932

as Narrator (voice)

Microscopic Mysteries

Microscopic Mysteries

1932

as Narrator (voice)

Desert Regatta

Desert Regatta

1932

as Narrator (voice)

Snow Birds

Snow Birds

1932

as Narrator (voice)

Color Scales

Color Scales

1932

as Narrator (voice)

Olympic Events

Olympic Events

1932

as Narrator (voice)

Wild and Woolly

Wild and Woolly

1931

as Narrator (voice)

Trader Hound

Trader Hound

1931

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

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