Pete Smith
Actor
Born September 4, 1892 in New York City, New York, USA
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.
Filmography
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MGM Parade
Rough Riding
Narrator
Film Antics
Narrator
Fish Tales
Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
Narrator (voice)
This Is a Living?
Narrator (voice)
Cash Stashers
Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
Narrator (voice)
Reducing
Narrator (voice)
Fishing Feats
Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
Narrator (voice)
Camera Sleuth
Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Wrong Way Butch
Narrator (voice)
Did'ja Know?
Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
Narrator (voice)
Sports Oddities
Narrator
Water Trix
Narrator (voice)
Let's Cogitate
Narrator (voice
Ice Aces
Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
Narrator (voice)
Bowling Tricks
Narrator(voice)
Now You See It
Narrator (voice)
Diamond Demon
Narrator (voice)
Sure Cures
Narrator (voice)
Treasures from Trash
Narrator (voice)
Studio Visit
Narrator (voice)
Fala at Hyde Park
Narrator
Hollywood Scout
Narrator / Chimp (voice)
The Great Morgan
Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie Pests
Narrator (voice)
Groovie Movie
Narrator
Seventh Column
Narrator (voice)
Seeing Hands
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Fala: The President's Dog
Narrator - Host
Hollywood Daredevils
Narrator
Marines in the Making
Narrator (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
as Interlocutor (voice)
Calling All Pa's
Narrator (voice)
Victory Quiz
Acro-Batty
Narrator
What About Daddy?
Narrator
Aqua Antics
Narrator (voice)
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
Narrator (voice)
Army Champions
Narrator (voice)
Flicker Memories
Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
Narrator (voice)
Aeronutics
Narrator (voice)
Third Dimensional Murder
Narrator (voice)
Wedding Bills
Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
Narrator (voice)
Spots Before Your Eyes
Narrator
The Domineering Male
Narrator (voice)
Take a Cue
Narrator (voice)
Culinary Carving
Narrator
Poetry of Nature
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Radio Hams
Narrator (voice)
Weather Wizards
Narrator (voice)
Marine Circus
Narrator
Heroes at Leisure
Narrator (voice)
Fisticuffs
Narrator (voice)
Anaesthesia
Narrator
The New Audioscopiks
Narrator
Friend Indeed
Narrator
Candid Cameramaniacs
Narrator
Romance of Radium
Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Acrobats
Narrator (voice)
The Grand Bounce
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Penny Wisdom
Narrator (voice)
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Narrator (voice)
Wanted - A Master
Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Hurling
Narrator
Killer Dog
Narrator (voice)
Harnessed Rhythm
Narrator (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
Narrator (voice)
Audioscopiks
Commentator (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Narrator (voice)
Water Sports
Narrator (voice)
Trained Hoofs
Narrator (voice)
Donkey Baseball
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Narrator (voice)
Strikes and Spares
Narrator (voice)
Pro Football
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Six
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Five
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Four
Narrator (voice)
Manhattan Melodrama
Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Goofy Movies Number Three
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Two
Narrator (voice)
Roping Wild Bears
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number One
Narrator (voice)
Menu
Narrator (voice)
Handlebars
Narrator (voice)
Inflation
Narrator (voice)
Throttle Pushers
Narrator(voice)
Swing High
Narrator (voice)
Desert Regatta
Narrator (voice)
Snow Birds
Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
Narrator (voice)
Wild and Woolly
Narrator (voice)
Trader Hound
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)