FLIXREC
Pete Smith

Pete Smith

Acting September 4, 1892 (86 years old) January 12, 1979 New York City, New York, USA

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.

Movies 171

Manhattan Melodrama 7.0

Manhattan Melodrama

as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)

1934
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story 7.0

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2002
Marines in the Making 6.3

Marines in the Making

as Narrator (voice)

1942
The Tree in a Test Tube 5.2

The Tree in a Test Tube

as as Interlocutor (voice)

1942
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara 6.1

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

as Narrator (voice)

1935
Hollywood Scout 6.5

Hollywood Scout

as Narrator / Chimp (voice)

1945
Fala: The President's Dog 7.0

Fala: The President's Dog

as Narrator - Host

1943
I Love My Mother-In-Law But... 7.2

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

as Narrator (voice)

1948
Fisticuffs 7.0

Fisticuffs

as Narrator (voice)

1938
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK 6.3

How to Hold Your Husband - BACK

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Killer Dog 5.6

Killer Dog

as Narrator (voice)

1936
Radio Hams 7.3

Radio Hams

as Narrator (voice)

1939
The Grand Bounce 7.0

The Grand Bounce

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

1937
Fala at Hyde Park 9.0

Fala at Hyde Park

as Narrator

1946
Just What I Needed

Just What I Needed

as Narrator

1955
Diamond Demon 7.6

Diamond Demon

as Narrator (voice)

1947
Victory Quiz 6.2

Victory Quiz

1942
Wedding Bills 8.5

Wedding Bills

as Narrator (voice)

1940
Things We Can Do Without 7.3

Things We Can Do Without

as Narrator (voice)

1953
Goofy Movies Number Two 6.6

Goofy Movies Number Two

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Hollywood Daredevils

Hollywood Daredevils

as Narrator

1943
Just Suppose 7.0

Just Suppose

as Narrator (voice)

1948
The Man Around the House

The Man Around the House

as Narrator (voice)

1955
Fancy Answers 7.0

Fancy Answers

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Aqua Antics 7.0

Aqua Antics

as Narrator (voice)

1942
Swing High 7.1

Swing High

as Narrator (voice)

1932
Penny Wisdom 6.3

Penny Wisdom

as Narrator (voice)

1937
Spots Before Your Eyes 9.0

Spots Before Your Eyes

as Narrator

1940
I Love My Wife BUT! 7.0

I Love My Wife BUT!

as Narrator (voice)

1947
We Can Dream, Can't We?

We Can Dream, Can't We?

as Narrator

1949
Dexterity 9.0

Dexterity

as Narrator

1937
Army Champions 6.0

Army Champions

as Narrator (voice)

1941
What About Daddy? 7.0

What About Daddy?

as Narrator

1942
A Wife's Life 6.0

A Wife's Life

as Narrator (voice)

1950
The Jonker Diamond 5.1

The Jonker Diamond

as Narrator (voice)

1936
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two 8.0

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

as Narrator (voice)

1940
Calling All Pa's 6.7

Calling All Pa's

as Narrator (voice)

1942
Have You Ever Wondered? 6.5

Have You Ever Wondered?

as Narrator (voice)

1947
Film Antics 6.0

Film Antics

as Narrator

1954
Wanted - A Master 6.8

Wanted - A Master

as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)

1936
Ain't It Aggravatin' 6.0

Ain't It Aggravatin'

as Narrator (voice)

1954
Acro-Batty 7.5

Acro-Batty

as Narrator

1942
Cuban Rhythm 7.0

Cuban Rhythm

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Goofy Movies Number One 6.0

Goofy Movies Number One

as Narrator (voice)

1933
Do Someone a Favor! 7.0

Do Someone a Favor!

as Narrator (voice)

1954
Man's Greatest Friend 8.0

Man's Greatest Friend

as Narrator

1938
Menu 5.4

Menu

as Narrator (voice)

1933
Harnessed Rhythm 5.5

Harnessed Rhythm

as Narrator (voice)

1936
Curious Contests 10.0

Curious Contests

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

1950
I Love My Husband, But! 10.0

I Love My Husband, But!

as Narrator (voice)

1946
Dogs 'n Ducks 5.0

Dogs 'n Ducks

as Narrator (voice)

1953
Three on a Rope 7.5

Three on a Rope

as Narrator

1938
Studio Visit 5.5

Studio Visit

as Narrator (voice)

1946
Anaesthesia 7.0

Anaesthesia

as Narrator

1938
This Is a Living? 6.0

This Is a Living?

as Narrator (voice)

1953
Football Thrills of 1940

Football Thrills of 1940

as Narrator

1941
Color Scales 7.0

Color Scales

as Narrator (voice)

1932
Romance of Radium 6.2

Romance of Radium

as Narrator (voice)

1937
Weather Wizards 7.0

Weather Wizards

as Narrator (voice)

1939
Football Thrills of 1938 7.0

Football Thrills of 1938

as Narrator

1939
Quicker'n a Wink 7.0

Quicker'n a Wink

as Narrator (voice)

1940
Penny To the Rescue 7.0

Penny To the Rescue

as Narrator

1941
Please Answer (I.Q. #3) 9.0

Please Answer (I.Q. #3)

as Narrator

1940
Treasures from Trash 7.0

Treasures from Trash

as Narrator (voice)

1946
Let's Cogitate 7.5

Let's Cogitate

as Narrator (voice

1948
Handlebars 6.0

Handlebars

as Narrator (voice)

1933
Fish Tales 7.0

Fish Tales

as Narrator (voice)

1954
Let's Talk Turkey 6.3

Let's Talk Turkey

as Narrator

1939
The Great Morgan 6.0

The Great Morgan

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

1945
Lions on the Loose 6.5

Lions on the Loose

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Neighbor Pests

Neighbor Pests

as Narrator

1947
Bowling Tricks 6.5

Bowling Tricks

as Narrator(voice)

1948
Penny's Picnic 8.0

Penny's Picnic

1938
Those Good Old Days 8.0

Those Good Old Days

as Narrator

1949
You Can't Win 4.9

You Can't Win

as Narrator (voice)

1948
Groovie Movie 6.3

Groovie Movie

as Narrator

1944
Did'ja Know? 5.0

Did'ja Know?

as Narrator (voice)

1950
Double Diving 10.0

Double Diving

as Narrator

1939
Goofy Movies Number Seven 5.7

Goofy Movies Number Seven

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Penny's Party 8.0

Penny's Party

as Narrator

1938
Seeing Hands 6.3

Seeing Hands

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

1943
Memory Tricks 7.0

Memory Tricks

1941
Pigskin Champions

Pigskin Champions

as Narrator (voice)

1937
Fishing Feats 7.5

Fishing Feats

as Narrator (voice)

1951
Equestrian Acrobats 8.0

Equestrian Acrobats

as Narrator (voice)

1937
Hurling 9.0

Hurling

as Narrator

1936
Goofy Movies Number Four 4.8

Goofy Movies Number Four

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Snow Birds 6.3

Snow Birds

as Narrator (voice)

1932
Inflation 8.0

Inflation

as Narrator (voice)

1933
Water Bugs 8.5

Water Bugs

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Pest Control

Pest Control

as Narrator

1950
Let's Dance 7.0

Let's Dance

as Narrator (voice)

1936
Safety Sleuth

Safety Sleuth

as Pete Smith - Narrator

1944
Aeronutics 7.0

Aeronutics

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Camera Sleuth 7.0

Camera Sleuth

as Narrator (voice)

1951
The Camera Caught It

The Camera Caught It

as Narrator

1954
Guest Pests 7.0

Guest Pests

as Narrator

1945
Bargain Madness 6.2

Bargain Madness

as Narrator (voice)

1951
Social Sea Lions 7.0

Social Sea Lions

as Narrator

1940
Wrong Way Butch 6.4

Wrong Way Butch

as Narrator (voice)

1950
Water Sports 6.5

Water Sports

as Narrator (voice)

1935
Third Dimensional Murder 6.7

Third Dimensional Murder

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Friend Indeed 6.7

Friend Indeed

as Narrator

1937
Trained Hoofs 7.5

Trained Hoofs

as Narrator (voice)

1935
Football Thrills No. 9

Football Thrills No. 9

as Narrator

1946
Ice Aces 7.0

Ice Aces

as Narrator (voice)

1948
Now You See It 6.6

Now You See It

as Narrator (voice)

1947
Pro Football 7.0

Pro Football

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Microscopic Mysteries 6.7

Microscopic Mysteries

as Narrator (voice)

1932
Olympic Events 10.0

Olympic Events

as Narrator (voice)

1932
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12 6.5

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

as Narrator

1947
Football Thrills of 1937 10.0

Football Thrills of 1937

as Narrator

1938
Bar-Rac's Night Out 6.5

Bar-Rac's Night Out

as Narrator (voice)

1937
Trader Hound 6.0

Trader Hound

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

1931
Reducing 5.3

Reducing

as Narrator (voice)

1952
Super Cue Men 8.0

Super Cue Men

as Narrator

1949
Strikes and Spares 6.4

Strikes and Spares

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 6.5

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

as Narrator (voice)

1946
Donkey Baseball 6.0

Donkey Baseball

as Narrator (voice)

1935
Throttle Pushers 7.5

Throttle Pushers

as Narrator(voice)

1933
Stuffie 10.0

Stuffie

1940
Crashing the Movies 7.0

Crashing the Movies

as Narrator (voice)

1950
Goofy Movies Number Five 7.5

Goofy Movies Number Five

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Surfboard Rhythm 9.0

Surfboard Rhythm

as Narrator

1947
Football Thrills No. 10 8.0

Football Thrills No. 10

1947
The Mosconi Story

The Mosconi Story

as Narrator

1953
Rough Riding 6.5

Rough Riding

as Narrator

1954
Musiquiz 5.5

Musiquiz

as Narrator (voice)

1952
Candid Cameramaniacs 7.5

Candid Cameramaniacs

as Narrator

1937
Movie Pests 6.1

Movie Pests

as Narrator (voice)

1944
Goofy Movies Number Three 5.8

Goofy Movies Number Three

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Football Thrills of 1944 6.5

Football Thrills of 1944

as Narrator

1945
Sports Oddities 9.0

Sports Oddities

as Narrator

1949
Cash Stashers 6.8

Cash Stashers

as Narrator (voice)

1953
Gettin' Glamour 5.0

Gettin' Glamour

as Narrator (voice)

1946
Out for Fun 9.0

Out for Fun

as Narrator

1954
Home Maid 7.0

Home Maid

as Narrator

1944
Goofy Movies Number Ten 6.5

Goofy Movies Number Ten

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Fine Feathers 6.7

Fine Feathers

as Narrator

1933
Marine Circus 6.0

Marine Circus

as Narrator

1939
Culinary Carving 7.0

Culinary Carving

as Narrator

1939
Animals in Action 7.0

Animals in Action

as Narrator (voice)

1955
Goofy Movies Number Nine 7.0

Goofy Movies Number Nine

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Heroes at Leisure 7.0

Heroes at Leisure

as Narrator (voice)

1939
Flicker Memories 5.8

Flicker Memories

as Narrator (voice)

1941
Set 'em Up 10.0

Set 'em Up

as Narrator

1939
Badminton 9.0

Badminton

as Narrator (voice)

1945
Sportsman's Memories

Sportsman's Memories

as Narrator (voice)

1944
Take a Cue 8.5

Take a Cue

as Narrator (voice)

1939
Water Wisdom 7.0

Water Wisdom

as Narrator(voice)

1943
Desert Regatta 6.2

Desert Regatta

as Narrator (voice)

1932
Trout Fishing

Trout Fishing

as Self

1932
The Domineering Male 7.3

The Domineering Male

as Narrator (voice)

1940
Wild and Woolly 7.0

Wild and Woolly

as Narrator (voice)

1931
Hot on Ice 8.0

Hot on Ice

as Narrator

1938
Football Thrills of 1943

Football Thrills of 1943

as Narrator

1944
Sure Cures 5.7

Sure Cures

as Narrator (voice)

1946
Football Thrills of 1942

Football Thrills of 1942

as Narrator

1943
Football Thrills of 1941

Football Thrills of 1941

as Narrator

1942
Grid Rules 9.0

Grid Rules

as Narrator

1938
Seventh Column 7.0

Seventh Column

as Narrator (voice)

1943
Maintain the Right 7.0

Maintain the Right

as Narrator

1940
Audioscopiks 5.7

Audioscopiks

as Commentator (voice)

1935
Football Thrills of 1939

Football Thrills of 1939

as Narrator
Roping Wild Bears 7.0

Roping Wild Bears

as Narrator (voice)

1934
Water Trix 6.3

Water Trix

as Narrator (voice)

1949
Goofy Movies Number Eight 7.0

Goofy Movies Number Eight

as Narrator (voice)

1934
The New Audioscopiks 6.7

The New Audioscopiks

as Narrator

1938
Poetry of Nature 6.0

Poetry of Nature

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

1939
The Fall Guy 7.5

The Fall Guy

as Narrator (voice)

1955
Goofy Movies Number Six 6.0

Goofy Movies Number Six

as Narrator (voice)

1934

TV Shows 2

MGM Parade 7.5

MGM Parade

1955
MGM Parade 7.5

MGM Parade

as Self

1955

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