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.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0809570
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1753034
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Filmography (Movies)
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Character:Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:05/02/2002
The Fall Guy
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:04/06/1955
Animals in Action
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:21/05/1955
Just What I Needed
Character:Narrator
Release Date:15/04/1955
The Man Around the House
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/01/1955
Rough Riding
Character:Narrator
Release Date:11/12/1954
The Camera Caught It
Character:Narrator
Release Date:09/10/1954
Film Antics
Character:Narrator
Release Date:08/07/1954
Out for Fun
Character:Narrator
Release Date:08/05/1954
Do Someone a Favor!
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:10/04/1954
Fish Tales
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:13/03/1954
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:06/02/1954
Things We Can Do Without
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:05/12/1953
This Is a Living?
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:10/10/1953
Cash Stashers
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:29/08/1953
Dogs 'n Ducks
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:27/06/1953
The Mosconi Story
Character:Narrator
Release Date:07/02/1953
Reducing
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:22/03/1952
Musiquiz
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:16/02/1952
Fishing Feats
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:22/12/1951
Bargain Madness
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:04/07/1951
Camera Sleuth
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:28/04/1951
Curious Contests
Character:Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Release Date:11/11/1950
Wrong Way Butch
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:02/09/1950
A Wife's Life
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/09/1950
Did'ja Know?
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:06/05/1950
Crashing the Movies
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:28/01/1950
Sports Oddities
Character:Narrator
Release Date:31/12/1949
We Can Dream, Can't We?
Character:Narrator
Release Date:03/12/1949
Water Trix
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:05/11/1949
Those Good Old Days
Character:Narrator
Release Date:16/04/1949
Super Cue Men
Character:Narrator
Release Date:29/01/1949
Let's Cogitate
Character:Narrator (voice
Release Date:25/12/1948
Ice Aces
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:06/11/1948
Just Suppose
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:17/07/1948
You Can't Win
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:29/05/1948
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:07/02/1948
Bowling Tricks
Character:Narrator(voice)
Release Date:10/01/1948
Have You Ever Wondered?
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:13/12/1947
Surfboard Rhythm
Character:Narrator
Release Date:18/10/1947
Football Thrills No. 10
Character:
Release Date:06/09/1947
Neighbor Pests
Character:Narrator
Release Date:03/05/1947
I Love My Wife BUT!
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:05/04/1947
Now You See It
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:20/03/1947
Diamond Demon
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/02/1947
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
Character:Narrator
Release Date:11/01/1947
I Love My Husband, But!
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:07/12/1946
Sure Cures
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:02/11/1946
Football Thrills No. 9
Character:Narrator
Release Date:07/09/1946
Treasures from Trash
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:08/06/1946
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:18/05/1946
Studio Visit
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:11/05/1946
Gettin' Glamour
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:02/02/1946
Fala at Hyde Park
Character:Narrator
Release Date:19/01/1946
Badminton
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:08/12/1945
Guest Pests
Character:Narrator
Release Date:20/10/1945
Football Thrills of 1944
Character:Narrator
Release Date:08/09/1945
Hollywood Scout
Character:Narrator / Chimp (voice)
Release Date:14/04/1945
The Great Morgan
Character:Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:01/01/1945
Safety Sleuth
Character:Pete Smith - Narrator
Release Date:25/11/1944
Football Thrills of 1943
Character:Narrator
Release Date:23/09/1944
Movie Pests
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:08/07/1944
Sportsman's Memories
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:22/04/1944
Groovie Movie
Character:Narrator
Release Date:19/02/1944
Home Maid
Character:Narrator
Release Date:19/02/1944
Water Wisdom
Character:Narrator(voice)
Release Date:27/11/1943
Football Thrills of 1942
Character:Narrator
Release Date:25/09/1943
Seventh Column
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:31/07/1943
Seeing Hands
Character:Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Release Date:03/07/1943
Fala: The President's Dog
Character:Narrator - Host
Release Date:10/04/1943
Hollywood Daredevils
Character:Narrator
Release Date:20/03/1943
Marines in the Making
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:26/12/1942
The Tree in a Test Tube
Character:as Interlocutor (voice)
Release Date:19/11/1942
Calling All Pa's
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:24/10/1942
Football Thrills of 1941
Character:Narrator
Release Date:26/09/1942
Victory Quiz
Character:
Release Date:09/05/1942
Acro-Batty
Character:Narrator
Release Date:28/03/1942
What About Daddy?
Character:Narrator
Release Date:28/02/1942
Aqua Antics
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:24/01/1942
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:30/12/1941
Fancy Answers
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/11/1941
Army Champions
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:11/10/1941
Flicker Memories
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:04/10/1941
Football Thrills of 1940
Character:Narrator
Release Date:20/09/1941
Water Bugs
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:16/08/1941
Cuban Rhythm
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:21/06/1941
Lions on the Loose
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:24/05/1941
Aeronutics
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:26/04/1941
Memory Tricks
Character:
Release Date:15/03/1941
Third Dimensional Murder
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/03/1941
Penny To the Rescue
Character:Narrator
Release Date:25/01/1941
Wedding Bills
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:13/11/1940
Quicker'n a Wink
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:12/10/1940
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
Character:Narrator
Release Date:24/08/1940
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:08/08/1940
Social Sea Lions
Character:Narrator
Release Date:20/07/1940
Spots Before Your Eyes
Character:Narrator
Release Date:04/05/1940
The Domineering Male
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:30/03/1940
Stuffie
Character:
Release Date:02/03/1940
Maintain the Right
Character:Narrator
Release Date:13/01/1940
Let's Talk Turkey
Character:Narrator
Release Date:28/10/1939
Set 'em Up
Character:Narrator
Release Date:06/10/1939
Take a Cue
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:12/08/1939
Culinary Carving
Character:Narrator
Release Date:01/07/1939
Poetry of Nature
Character:Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Release Date:17/06/1939
Radio Hams
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:19/05/1939
Weather Wizards
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:08/04/1939
Marine Circus
Character:Narrator
Release Date:11/03/1939
Heroes at Leisure
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:02/02/1939
Double Diving
Character:Narrator
Release Date:14/01/1939
Football Thrills of 1938
Character:Narrator
Release Date:13/01/1939
Penny's Picnic
Character:
Release Date:17/12/1938
Man's Greatest Friend
Character:Narrator
Release Date:19/11/1938
Hot on Ice
Character:Narrator
Release Date:22/10/1938
Grid Rules
Character:Narrator
Release Date:15/10/1938
Football Thrills of 1937
Character:Narrator
Release Date:10/09/1938
Fisticuffs
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:27/08/1938
Anaesthesia
Character:Narrator
Release Date:09/07/1938
Penny's Party
Character:Narrator
Release Date:09/04/1938
Three on a Rope
Character:Narrator
Release Date:19/02/1938
The New Audioscopiks
Character:Narrator
Release Date:16/01/1938
Friend Indeed
Character:Narrator
Release Date:28/12/1937
Candid Cameramaniacs
Character:Narrator
Release Date:11/12/1937
Romance of Radium
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:23/10/1937
Pigskin Champions
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:14/08/1937
Equestrian Acrobats
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:14/08/1937
The Grand Bounce
Character:Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Release Date:22/05/1937
Penny Wisdom
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:10/04/1937
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:27/02/1937
Dexterity
Character:Narrator
Release Date:16/01/1937
Wanted - A Master
Character:Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Release Date:26/12/1936
Hurling
Character:Narrator
Release Date:16/11/1936
Killer Dog
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:29/08/1936
Harnessed Rhythm
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:06/06/1936
The Jonker Diamond
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:27/03/1936
Let's Dance
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:04/01/1936
Audioscopiks
Character:Commentator (voice)
Release Date:26/12/1935
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:07/12/1935
Water Sports
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:26/10/1935
Trained Hoofs
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:12/10/1935
Donkey Baseball
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:02/03/1935
Goofy Movies Number Ten
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:01/12/1934
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:03/11/1934
Strikes and Spares
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:20/10/1934
Goofy Movies Number Eight
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:06/10/1934
Pro Football
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:22/09/1934
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:18/09/1934
Goofy Movies Number Six
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:28/07/1934
Goofy Movies Number Five
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:06/06/1934
Goofy Movies Number Four
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:05/05/1934
Manhattan Melodrama
Character:Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Release Date:04/05/1934
Goofy Movies Number Three
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:24/03/1934
Goofy Movies Number Two
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:24/02/1934
Roping Wild Bears
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:10/02/1934
Goofy Movies Number One
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:23/12/1933
Fine Feathers
Character:Narrator
Release Date:18/11/1933
Menu
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:23/09/1933
Handlebars
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:26/08/1933
Inflation
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:15/06/1933
Throttle Pushers
Character:Narrator(voice)
Release Date:01/04/1933
Swing High
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:12/11/1932
Microscopic Mysteries
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:18/10/1932
Desert Regatta
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:17/09/1932
Snow Birds
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:20/08/1932
Color Scales
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:23/04/1932
Olympic Events
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:05/03/1932
Wild and Woolly
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:07/11/1931
Trader Hound
Character:Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Release Date:08/04/1931
Television Appearances
Images
