Personal Info
Birth date
1892-09-04 (132 Years)
Day of death
1979-01-12
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
New York City, New York, USA
Also known as
Peter Schmidt
Pete Smith
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.
Filmography
Manhattan Melodrama
7.014
Overview:
The friendship between two orphans endures even though they grow up on opposite sides of the law and fall in love with the same woman.La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
5.917
Overview:
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara is a 1935 American comedy short film directed by Louis Lewyn. It was nominated for an Academy Award at the 9th Academy Awards in 1936 for Best Short Subject (Color). It features a young, pre-stardom 13-year-old Judy Garland singing "La Cucaracha" with her two sisters (billed as "The Garland Sisters"). In the film, Hollywood stars participate in a Mexican-themed revue and festival in Santa Barbara. Andy Devine, the "World's Greatest Matador," engages in a bullfight with a dubious bovine supplied by Buster Keaton, and musical numbers are provided by Joe Morrison and The Garland Sisters. Comedy bits and dance numbers are also featured.Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
NYR
Overview:
The story of the short film from the beginning of the movies in the 1890s, when all movies were shorts, through the 1950s when short subjects virtually disappeared from theaters.Bar-Rac's Night Out
6
Overview:
In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a raccoon spends the night looking for food for his family. After his encounters with a skunk, a frog, and a menacing bobcat, he experiences the dangers in a vacant cabin.The Great Morgan
5.5
Overview:
Frank Morgan is hired to put together a movie using odds and ends from the MGM vaults. He does so by splicing together a string of completely unrelated short subjects and musical numbers, interspersed with a repeated loop of a scene from some melodrama. (Contains in their entirety the shorts, "Musical Masterpieces," "Our Old Car," and "Badminton," as well as clips from other projects)Lions on the Loose
NYR
Overview:
In this Pete Smith Specialty short, two lion cubs escape from the zoo and go on an adventure.Fancy Answers
4
Overview:
In this Pete Smith Speciality, the audience is asked a series of multiple-choice questions on various subjects.Trader Hound
6
Overview:
Trader Hound, a dog who walks upright, wears human clothes, and speaks English, is in darkest Africa with a young sheik who is looking for adventure. With their native guides, they are searching for a lost princess, Nina T-Bone. After sleepless mosquito-filled nights, clothes lost to a mischievous monkey, and a battle royal between a lion and a gorilla, they make their way to Izorgi Village, where the fierce Afri-Curs live and where Nina T-Bone may be a prisoner. Trader Hound and his party are taken captive, and the Afri-Curs prepare a pot to boil them. Can they make their escape?Quicker'n a Wink
6.867
Overview:
In this Pete Smith Specialty short, Dr. Harold E. Edgerton demonstrates stroboscopic photography, which he helped develop. This process allows us to see in slow motion what happens during events that occur too fast to be seen by the naked eye. Examples shown here include a bullet in flight as it shatters a light bulb, the moment of impact when a kicker kicks a football, and the motion of a hummingbird's wings as it hovers.Strikes and Spares
6.154
Overview:
This short features professional bowler Andy Varipapa. He first shows the correct way to grip a bowling ball and the proper form for delivering the ball down the alley. He then performs several trick shots.Third Dimensional Murder
NYR
Overview:
A 3-D short subject in which the narrator goes to a creepy old house in search of his missing aunt. There he encounters the Frankenstein monster, a witch, a wooden Indian who comes to life, and assorted other monsters and frightening characters, all of whom manage to throw something toward the camera.Menu
5
Overview:
A chef helps a housewife cook a duck dinner that will not give her husband indigestion.Friend Indeed
NYR
Overview:
Pete Smith tells the story of 'Sparky', a German shepherd dog trained to lead his blind master, a country doctor who lost his sight in a fire, and now has to depend upon the dog to lead him in his daily rounds. 'Sparky" was the dog who was responsible for the Interstate Commerce Commission passing a special ruling allowing guide-dogs to travel first-class in Pullman cars to accompany their blind partner, and not as animals confined to the baggage car. Smith shows how 'Sparky' went to Washington D. C. with his master and helped sell the change to the legislators.Just Suppose
6
Overview:
An off-camera narrator takes us through various scenarios of "just suppose". First we watch what would happen if a private detective behaved at home as he does in the movies; it's a ticket to a domestic disturbance. Next, a son gets to treat his father the way his father treats him. In the third episode, to a shopkeeper's chagrin, a man shops for a hat the way a woman does. In the final sketch, we suppose a household in which the man gets pregnant and has a baby, while the mom, clueless about little children, is the one with the career.Anaesthesia
NYR
Overview:
An examination of the history of anesthesia, from ancient Egyptian times to contemporary times.Badminton
NYR
Overview:
Two expert badminton players demonstrate how the best play the game, including some slick trick shots. Meanwhile, befuddled bungler Bellamy B. Birdbrain bumbles his way through building a backyard badminton court. (This film is played in its entirety in MGM's short feature "The Great Morgan")Movie Pests
5.6
Overview:
This Pete Smith Specialty short takes a humorous look at the inconsiderate pests whose annoying habits make enjoying a movie impossible.Marines in the Making
5.9
Overview:
This short film shows U.S. Marines in training at a number of unidentified bases, with a focus on hand-to-hand combat.Cuban Rhythm
NYR
Overview:
In this Pete Smith Specialties short, two professional dancers beautifully demonstrate the rumba and conga while actors humorously display some incorrect techniques for those dances.Romance of Radium
6.042
Overview:
Romance of Radium is a 1937 American short film directed by Jacques Tourneur, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This short film tells the story of the discovery of radium and how it is used in medicine. In 1937, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject (One-Reel) at the 10th Academy AwardsBargain Madness
7
Overview:
In this comedic Pete Smith Specialty short, women battle for bargains in a department store.Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
NYR
Overview:
A series of questions testing one's knowledge of fun facts about horses and equestrian in general are asked. The questions deal with horse age and size measuring terms and protocols, race track gambling lingo, harness racing lingo and training techniques, Lipizzan stallions, and non-horse terminology using horse words. In-between the questions, other horse facts are presented and shown, including hapless novice equestrian Horace trying to saddle, mount and ride a horse.Let's Talk Turkey
5
Overview:
It's Thanksgiving. Newlywed husband Abner Poodlebean faces the turkey his wife has prepared: she wants him to carve it at the table in front of her scowling family, and Abner has no idea how to proceed. The film's narrator has us cut away to the kitchen of chef M.O. Cullen who demonstrates the proper way to carve the bird, spoon out the stuffing, and lay out the platter. Back to Abner, who's missed Cullen's lesson, so he makes a fine mess. Can this marriage survive?Safety Sleuth
NYR
Overview:
Demonstrates how accidents happen when proper safety devices are neglected.The Fall Guy
6
Overview:
In this final entry in the Pete Smith Specialty series, Smith pays tribute to actor and stuntman Dave O'Brien, who took many falls and spills (and upon whom objects fell) when he played hapless characters throughout the series. Under the pseudonym "David Barclay", O'Brien also directed many of the Specialties. Clips from previous films highlight O'Brien's work.The Grand Bounce
6.5
Overview:
A man writes a check for $1,000 to cover a gambling debt. The problem is that he doesn't have enough money in his bank account to cover it. The check was written on Friday afternoon, but cannot be cashed before the following Tuesday. The check is used to pay several debts until...Acting
TBAFootball Thrills of 1939 as Narrator
2002Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1955The Fall Guy as Narrator (voice)
1955Animals in Action as Narrator (voice)
1955Just What I Needed as Narrator
1955The Man Around the House as Narrator (voice)
1954Rough Riding as Narrator
1954The Camera Caught It as Narrator
1954Film Antics as Narrator
1954Out for Fun as Narrator
1954Do Someone a Favor! as Narrator (voice)
1954Fish Tales as Narrator (voice)
1954Ain't It Aggravatin' as Narrator (voice)
1953Things We Can Do Without as Narrator (voice)
1953This Is a Living? as Narrator (voice)
1953Cash Stashers as Narrator (voice)
1953Dogs 'n Ducks as Narrator (voice)
1953The Mosconi Story as Narrator
1952Reducing as Narrator (voice)
1952Musiquiz as Narrator (voice)
1951Fishing Feats as Narrator (voice)
1951Bargain Madness as Narrator (voice)
1951Camera Sleuth as Narrator (voice)
1950Curious Contests as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
1950Wrong Way Butch as Narrator (voice)
1950A Wife's Life as Narrator (voice)
1950Did'ja Know? as Narrator (voice)
1950Crashing the Movies as Narrator (voice)
1949Sports Oddities as Narrator
1949We Can Dream, Can't We? as Narrator
1949Water Trix as Narrator (voice)
1949Those Good Old Days as Narrator
1949Super Cue Men as Narrator
1948Let's Cogitate as Narrator (voice
1948Ice Aces as Narrator (voice)
1948Just Suppose as Narrator (voice)
1948You Can't Win as Narrator (voice)
1948I Love My Mother-In-Law But... as Narrator (voice)
1948Bowling Tricks as Narrator(voice)
1947Have You Ever Wondered? as Narrator (voice)
1947Surfboard Rhythm as Narrator
1947Football Thrills No. 10 as Unknown
1947Neighbor Pests as Narrator
1947I Love My Wife BUT! as Narrator (voice)
1947Now You See It as Narrator (voice)
1947Diamond Demon as Narrator (voice)
1947Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12 as Narrator
1946I Love My Husband, But! as Narrator (voice)
1946Sure Cures as Narrator (voice)
1946Football Thrills No. 9 as Narrator
1946Treasures from Trash as Narrator (voice)
1946Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 as Narrator (voice)
1946Studio Visit as Narrator (voice)
1946Gettin' Glamour as Narrator (voice)
1946Fala at Hyde Park as Narrator
1945Badminton as Narrator (voice)
1945Guest Pests as Narrator
1945Football Thrills of 1944 as Narrator
1945Hollywood Scout as Narrator / Chimp (voice)
1945The Great Morgan as Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
1944Safety Sleuth as Pete Smith - Narrator
1944Football Thrills of 1943 as Narrator
1944Movie Pests as Narrator (voice)
1944Sportsman's Memories as Narrator (voice)
1944Groovie Movie as Narrator
1944Home Maid as Narrator
1943Water Wisdom as Narrator(voice)
1943Football Thrills of 1942 as Narrator
1943Seventh Column as Narrator (voice)
1943Seeing Hands as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1943Fala: The President's Dog as Narrator - Host
1943Hollywood Daredevils as Narrator
1942Marines in the Making as Narrator (voice)
1942The Tree in a Test Tube as as Interlocutor (voice)
1942Calling All Pa's as Narrator (voice)
1942Football Thrills of 1941 as Narrator
1942Victory Quiz as Unknown
1942Acro-Batty as Narrator
1942What About Daddy? as Narrator
1942Aqua Antics as Narrator (voice)
1941How to Hold Your Husband - BACK as Narrator (voice)
1941Fancy Answers as Narrator (voice)
1941Army Champions as Narrator (voice)
1941Flicker Memories as Narrator (voice)
1941Football Thrills of 1940 as Narrator
1941Water Bugs as Narrator (voice)
1941Cuban Rhythm as Narrator (voice)
1941Lions on the Loose as Narrator (voice)
1941Aeronutics as Narrator (voice)
1941Memory Tricks as Unknown
1941Third Dimensional Murder as Narrator (voice)
1941Penny To the Rescue as Narrator
1940Wedding Bills as Narrator (voice)
1940Quicker'n a Wink as Narrator (voice)
1940Please Answer (I.Q. #3) as Narrator
1940'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two as Narrator (voice)
1940Social Sea Lions as Narrator
1940Spots Before Your Eyes as Narrator
1940The Domineering Male as Narrator (voice)
1940Stuffie as Unknown
1940Maintain the Right as Narrator
1939Let's Talk Turkey as Narrator
1939Set 'em Up as Narrator
1939Take a Cue as Narrator (voice)
1939Culinary Carving as Narrator
1939Poetry of Nature as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1939Radio Hams as Narrator (voice)
1939Weather Wizards as Narrator (voice)
1939Marine Circus as Narrator
1939Heroes at Leisure as Narrator (voice)
1939Double Diving as Narrator
1939Football Thrills of 1938 as Narrator
1938Penny's Picnic as Unknown
1938Man's Greatest Friend as Narrator
1938Hot on Ice as Narrator
1938Grid Rules as Narrator
1938Football Thrills of 1937 as Narrator
1938Fisticuffs as Narrator (voice)
1938Anaesthesia as Narrator
1938Penny's Party as Narrator
1938Three on a Rope as Narrator
1938The New Audioscopiks as Narrator
1937Friend Indeed as Narrator
1937Candid Cameramaniacs as Narrator
1937Romance of Radium as Narrator (voice)
1937Pigskin Champions as Narrator (voice)
1937Equestrian Acrobats as Narrator (voice)
1937The Grand Bounce as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1937Penny Wisdom as Narrator (voice)
1937Bar-Rac's Night Out as Narrator (voice)
1937Dexterity as Narrator
1936Wanted - A Master as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
1936Hurling as Narrator
1936Killer Dog as Narrator (voice)
1936Harnessed Rhythm as Narrator (voice)
1936The Jonker Diamond as Narrator (voice)
1936Let's Dance as Narrator (voice)
1935Audioscopiks as Commentator (voice)
1935La Fiesta de Santa Barbara as Narrator (voice)
1935Water Sports as Narrator (voice)
1935Trained Hoofs as Narrator (voice)
1935Donkey Baseball as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Ten as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Nine as Narrator (voice)
1934Strikes and Spares as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Eight as Narrator (voice)
1934Pro Football as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Seven as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Six as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Five as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Four as Narrator (voice)
1934Manhattan Melodrama as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
1934Goofy Movies Number Three as Narrator (voice)
1934Goofy Movies Number Two as Narrator (voice)
1934Roping Wild Bears as Narrator (voice)
1933Goofy Movies Number One as Narrator (voice)
1933Fine Feathers as Narrator
1933Menu as Narrator (voice)
1933Handlebars as Narrator (voice)
1933Inflation as Narrator (voice)
1933Throttle Pushers as Narrator(voice)
1932Swing High as Narrator (voice)
1932Microscopic Mysteries as Narrator (voice)
1932Desert Regatta as Narrator (voice)
1932Snow Birds as Narrator (voice)
1932Color Scales as Narrator (voice)
1932Olympic Events as Narrator (voice)
1931Wild and Woolly as Narrator (voice)
1931Trader Hound as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Directing
TBAFootball Thrills of 1939 ... Director
1946Football Thrills No. 9 ... Director
1945Football Thrills of 1944 ... Director
1944Football Thrills of 1943 ... Director
1943Football Thrills of 1942 ... Director
1942Football Thrills of 1941 ... Director
1939Football Thrills of 1938 ... Director
1938Football Thrills of 1937 ... Director
Production
1955The Fall Guy ... Producer
1955Animals in Action ... Producer
1955Just What I Needed ... Producer
1955The Man Around the House ... Producer
1954Film Antics ... Producer
1954Do Someone a Favor! ... Producer
1954Fish Tales ... Producer
1954Ain't It Aggravatin' ... Producer
1953Things We Can Do Without ... Producer
1953This Is a Living? ... Producer
1953Cash Stashers ... Producer
1953Dogs 'n Ducks ... Producer
1952Reducing ... Producer
1952Musiquiz ... Producer
1951Fishing Feats ... Producer
1951Bargain Madness ... Producer
1951Camera Sleuth ... Producer
1950Curious Contests ... Producer
1950Wrong Way Butch ... Producer
1950A Wife's Life ... Producer
1950Did'ja Know? ... Producer
1950Crashing the Movies ... Producer
1949Water Trix ... Producer
1948Let's Cogitate ... Producer
1948Ice Aces ... Producer
1948Just Suppose ... Producer
1948You Can't Win ... Producer
1948I Love My Mother-In-Law But... ... Producer
1947Have You Ever Wondered? ... Producer
1947Neighbor Pests ... Producer
1947I Love My Wife BUT! ... Producer
1947Now You See It ... Producer
1946I Love My Husband, But! ... Producer
1946Sure Cures ... Producer
1946Treasures from Trash ... Producer
1946Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 ... Producer
1946Studio Visit ... Producer
1946Gettin' Glamour ... Producer
1945Badminton ... Producer
1945Hollywood Scout ... Producer
1944Movie Pests ... Producer
1943Seventh Column ... Producer
1943Seeing Hands ... Producer
1942Marines in the Making ... Producer
1942Calling All Pa's ... Producer
1942Acro-Batty ... Producer
1942What About Daddy? ... Producer
1942Aqua Antics ... Producer
1941How to Hold Your Husband - BACK ... Producer
1941Fancy Answers ... Producer
1941Army Champions ... Producer
1941Cuban Rhythm ... Producer
1941Lions on the Loose ... Producer
1941Third Dimensional Murder ... Producer
1940Quicker'n a Wink ... Producer
1940'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two ... Producer
1940Spots Before Your Eyes ... Producer
1939Heroes at Leisure ... Producer
1938Man's Greatest Friend ... Producer
1938Hot on Ice ... Producer
1938Grid Rules ... Producer
1938Football Thrills of 1937 ... Producer
1938Anaesthesia ... Producer
1938Penny's Party ... Producer
1937Romance of Radium ... Producer
1937Penny Wisdom ... Producer
1937Bar-Rac's Night Out ... Producer
1937Dexterity ... Producer
1936Wanted - A Master ... Producer
1936Killer Dog ... Producer
1936Harnessed Rhythm ... Producer
1936The Jonker Diamond ... Producer
1935La Fiesta de Santa Barbara ... Producer
1935Water Sports ... Producer
1935Donkey Baseball ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Ten ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Nine ... Producer
1934Strikes and Spares ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Eight ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Seven ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Six ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Five ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Four ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Three ... Producer
1934Goofy Movies Number Two ... Producer
1933Goofy Movies Number One ... Producer
1933Fine Feathers ... Producer
1933Menu ... Producer
1933Handlebars ... Producer
1933Inflation ... Producer
1932Microscopic Mysteries ... Producer
1932Desert Regatta ... Producer
1932Color Scales ... Producer
1932Olympic Events ... Producer
1931Wild and Woolly ... Producer
Writing
1953This Is a Living? ... Writer
1948Ice Aces ... Writer
1947Football Thrills No. 10 ... Writer
1942Acro-Batty ... Writer
1936The Jonker Diamond ... Writer
1935Trained Hoofs ... Writer
1935Donkey Baseball ... Writer