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