Pete Smith
Known for Acting · 171 credits
- Born
- 1892-09-04
- Died
- 1979-01-12
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Peter Schmidt
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.
Known For
TV Shows (1)
Movies (170)
Donkey Baseball
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Camera Sleuth
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Double Diving
1939
as Narrator
Victory Quiz
1942
Ice Aces
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Sure Cures
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Radio Hams
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Pest Control
1950
as Narrator
Manhattan Melodrama
1934
as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Cash Stashers
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Movie Pests
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Seventh Column
1943
as Narrator (voice)
Musiquiz
1952
as Narrator (voice)
Film Antics
1954
as Narrator
Grid Rules
1938
as Narrator
Culinary Carving
1939
as Narrator
Weather Wizards
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Studio Visit
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Killer Dog
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Hollywood Scout
1945
as Narrator / Chimp (voice)
Fishing Feats
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Fala: The President's Dog
1943
as Narrator - Host
The Grand Bounce
1937
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Marines in the Making
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Wanted - A Master
1936
as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
1936
as Narrator (voice)
The Fall Guy
1955
as Narrator (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Strikes and Spares
1934
as Narrator (voice)
This Is a Living?
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Handlebars
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Seeing Hands
1943
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Snow Birds
1932
as Narrator (voice)
The Great Morgan
1945
as Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Pigskin Champions
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Penny Wisdom
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
1950
as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Anaesthesia
1938
as Narrator
Take a Cue
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Romance of Radium
1937
as Narrator (voice)
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Now You See It
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Social Sea Lions
1940
as Narrator
Third Dimensional Murder
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Swing High
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Wrong Way Butch
1950
as Narrator (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942
as as Interlocutor (voice)
The Domineering Male
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Menu
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Acrobats
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Desert Regatta
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Water Sports
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Penny To the Rescue
1941
as Narrator
Spots Before Your Eyes
1940
as Narrator
Let's Cogitate
1948
as Narrator (voice
Trader Hound
1931
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Heroes at Leisure
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Water Trix
1949
as Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Stuffie
1940
Army Champions
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
as Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Pro Football
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Two
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Reducing
1952
as Narrator (voice)
Fisticuffs
1938
as Narrator (voice)
Microscopic Mysteries
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Treasures from Trash
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Friend Indeed
1937
as Narrator
Harnessed Rhythm
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Maintain the Right
1940
as Narrator
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Candid Cameramaniacs
1937
as Narrator
Set 'em Up
1939
as Narrator
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Safety Sleuth
1944
as Pete Smith - Narrator
Sportsman's Memories
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Trained Hoofs
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Hurling
1936
as Narrator
Penny's Party
1938
as Narrator
Fala at Hyde Park
1946
as Narrator
Lions on the Loose
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills No. 10
1947
Let's Dance
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940
as Narrator
Guest Pests
1945
as Narrator
The Camera Caught It
1954
as Narrator
Color Scales
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Aqua Antics
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Water Wisdom
1943
as Narrator(voice)
Did'ja Know?
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Talk Turkey
1939
as Narrator
Bar-Rac's Night Out
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Flicker Memories
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Inflation
1933
as Narrator (voice)
What About Daddy?
1942
as Narrator
Badminton
1945
as Narrator (voice)
Fish Tales
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Three
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Hot on Ice
1938
as Narrator
Throttle Pushers
1933
as Narrator(voice)
Football Thrills of 1944
1945
as Narrator
Hollywood Daredevils
1943
as Narrator
Wedding Bills
1940
as Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Dexterity
1937
as Narrator
Fine Feathers
1933
as Narrator
About Pete Smith
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 h… With 171 credits spanning from 1931 to 2002, Pete Smith has appeared in 170 films and 1 TV show.
Fans searching for Pete Smith movies, Pete Smith filmography, or the latest projects starring Pete Smith can stream many of these titles on HinFlix, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Pete Smith Movies
- Donkey Baseball (1935) — as Narrator (voice)
- Camera Sleuth (1951) — as Narrator (voice)
- Double Diving (1939) — as Narrator
- Victory Quiz (1942)
- Ice Aces (1948) — as Narrator (voice)
Where to Watch Pete Smith Films
Most Pete Smith movies and series are available to stream on HinFlix in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Pete Smith, check our movies catalogue and browse page.