Pete Smith (film producer)

Peter Schmidt (September 4, 1892 – January 12, 1979[1]), known professionally as Pete Smith, was an American producer and narrator of short subject films.

For other people with the same name, see Pete Smith (disambiguation).
"Goofy Movies" redirects here. Not to be confused with A Goofy Movie.
Pete Smith
Smith in a 1918 issue of The Moving Picture World
Born
Peter Schmidt

(1892-09-04)September 4, 1892
New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 1979(1979-01-12) (aged 86)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Producer and narrator of short subjects, Publicist
Years active1931–1955
Known forPete Smith Specialties
Spouses
Marjorie Ganss
​
​
(m. 1918; died 1957)​
    Anne Dunster
    ​
    (m. 1962⁠–⁠1979)​
    Children1
    AwardsAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (1938, 1941)
    Academy Honorary Award (1953)

    A native of New York City, Smith began working as a publicist at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the 1920s. He later became involved with movie making. He is best known for his series of short movies, the Pete Smith Specialties, which were produced from the 1930s to the 1950s. Smith produced and narrated more than 150 short movies which earned him two Best Live Action Short Film Academy Awards. In 1953, he was awarded an Academy Honorary Award for his short subjects.

    Smith's later years were spent in a Santa Monica convalescent home due to ill health. In January 1979, he jumped to his death from the roof of the home.

    Early life and career

    Smith was born in New York City.[2] He began his career as an aide for a vaudeville performers union. Smith then worked as an editor and critic for a trade magazine before becoming a press agent.[3] By 1915 he was doing movie publicity for Bosworth, Inc., followed by the Oliver Morosco Photoplay Co., Artcraft Pictures Corporation, and Famous Players–Lasky.[4] He was one of the founding members of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers.[5]

    During 1925, Smith was hired as the manager of publicity for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Louis B. Mayer.[3] He was later recruited to overdub the actions of trained dogs for the studio's Dogville Comedies. Smith would later narrate the studio's sports newsreels; he would embellish the action by running certain scenes in reverse, or adding his own commentary.

    Pete Smith Specialties

    Both MGM and the movie-going public learned of Smith's flair for comedy, and he was given his own series, Pete Smith Specialties; he produced and narrated 150 short movie subjects for MGM from the 1930s to 1955. His distinctive tenor voice and nasal tone were very recognizable and a trademark of the series.

    Most of Smith's movies were comedy documentaries, typically one reel (9 to 11 minutes long). Short-movie subjects in this era were part of the studios' exhibition packages, along with serials, animated cartoons, newsreels, travel documentaries, etc. Among the diverse topics Smith featured by his short movies were Emily Post-style household hints, insect life seen through a microscope, military training and hardware (during World War II), and dancing lessons. There were even several "series-within-the-series", such as general-knowledge quizzes, professional-football news (in the days before widespread television), quirky features concerning different kinds of animals (for example, Donkey Baseball and Social Sea Lions), and "Goofy Movies"[6][7] (playing antique silent dramas humorously). Smith narrated a patriotic short movie for the U.S. Government, The Tree In a Test Tube (1943), filmed in color, featuring Laurel and Hardy in a demonstration of household wood products, with Smith explaining the various exhibits for the viewer.

    Poster for his 1936 short subject movie Audioscopiks

    During the 1940s, movie stuntman and actor Dave O'Brien became the primary actor of Pete Smith Specialties. The hapless O'Brien would personify everyday nuisances: dealing with pests at the movies, demonstrating pet peeves, tackling hazardous home-improvement projects, and other problems with which the audience could identify. O'Brien's scenes were silent, compelling O'Brien to express his satisfaction or frustration entirely in visual terms as narrator Smith offered commentary. O'Brien knew the format so well that he also directed many of the short movies, using the name "David Barclay". He staged many of the sight gags himself, taking stupendous pratfalls for the camera.

    Smith produced and narrated more than 150 short movies which earned him fourteen Academy Award nominations and two Best Live Action Short Film Academy Awards.[8] At the 26th Academy Awards, Smith was awarded an Academy Honorary Award "for his witty and pungent observations on the American scene in his series of Pete Smith Specialties."[9]

    Smith announced his retirement in 1954. The MGM unit that produced the Pete Smith Specialties was terminated the next year, a casualty of short movies' decreasing popularity at the time.[10]

    Personal life

    Smith, under his birth name "Peter J. Schmid", married – on February 6, 1919, in Manhattan – Marjorie Ganss (1893–1958). They had one son, Douglas Mosely Schmid (1919–1984), who later became a technician for RKO.[11] Smith and Ganss remained married until her death in 1958. Smith's second marriage was to his secretary, Anne Dunston, whom he married in Las Vegas in October 1962.[12]

    Later years and death
    Pete Smith's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Smith spent his later years in poor health at a convalescent home in Santa Monica, California.[2] On January 12, 1979, he committed suicide by leaping off the building's roof.[13] He was survived by his second wife, Anne, and his son Douglas.[14]

    For his contribution to the movie industry, Smith received a star symbol on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1621 Vine Street.[1]

    Selected filmography
    Year Title Role Notes
    1931 Fishermen's Paradise Narrator Producer
    1931 Whippet Racing Narrator Producer
    1931 Wild and Woolly Narrator Producer
    1932 Color Scales Narrator Producer
    1932 Desert Regatta Narrator Producer
    1932 Trout Fishing Narrator Producer
    1932 Microscopic Mysteries Narrator Producer
    1932 Swing High Narrator Producer
    1932 Fast Life Race Announcer Appeared as himself
    1932 Snow Birds Explanatory Remarks
    1933 Goofy-Movies Number One Narrator
    1933 Menu Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Novelty
    1933 Handlebars Narrator Producer
    1933 Fine Feathers Narrator Producer
    1934 Goofy Movies (Parts 1 - 9) Narrator 10 part series released February through December in 1934, with only the first 9 narrated by Smith.
    1934 Roping Wild Bears Narrator
    1934 Vital Victuals Narrator Producer
    1934 Strikes and Spares Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Novelty
    1934 Pro Football Narrator
    1935 Donkey Baseball Producer and writer. Does not narrate
    1935 La Fiesta de Santa Barbara Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Color)
    1935 Audioscopiks Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Novelty
    1935 Water Sports Narrator
    1935 Trained Hoofs Narrator
    1936 Wanted – A Master Narrator/Voice of Dog Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1936 Killer-Dog Narrator Producer
    1936 Harnessed Rhythm Narrator
    1936 Bar-Rac's Night Out Narrator Producer
    1937 The Grand Bounce Narrator
    1937 Candid Cameramaniacs Narrator Producer
    1937 Penny Wisdom Narrator Producer
    Won: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Color
    1937 Pigskin Champions Narrator Producer
    1937 Romance of Radium Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1938 Football Thrills of 1937 Narrator Producer, director
    1938 Three on a Rope Narrator
    1938 Fisticuffs Narrator Features Max Baer
    1938 Hot on Ice Narrator Producer
    1939 Football Thrills of 1938 Narrator Producer, director
    1939 Radio Hams Narrator Producer
    1939 Let's Talk Turkey Narrator
    1939 Poetry of Nature Narrator
    1939 Take a Cue Narrator
    1939 Weather Wizards Narrator Producer
    1940 Spots Before Your Eyes Narrator Producer
    1940 Quicker'n a Wink Narrator Producer
    Won: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1941 Aeronutics Narrator Producer
    1941 Third Dimensional Murder Narrator Producer
    1941 Army Champions Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1941 Lions on the Loose Narrator Producer
    1941 How to Hold Your Husband Narrator
    1942 Acro-Batty Narrator Producer, writer
    1942 Marines in the Making Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1942 Calling All Pa's Narrator
    1942 Victory Quiz Narrator Quiz about military names. Starring in one skit a young and uncredited Alan Hale Jr. on KP duty
    1943 First Aid Narrator
    1943 Seeing Hands Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1943 The Tree in a Test Tube Interlocutor (voice)
    1944 Movie Pests Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1944 Football Thrills of 1944 Narrator Producer, director
    1945 Hollywood Scout Narrator Producer
    1945 Bus Pests Narrator Producer
    1946 Treasures From Trash Narrator Producer
    1946 Gettin' Glamour Narrator Producer
    1946 Fala at Hyde Park Narrator Producer
    1946 I Love My Husband, But! Narrator Producer
    1946 Sure Cures Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1946 Studio Visit Narrator Producer - Pete Smith Specialty
    1947 Now You See It Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1947 I Love My Wife, But! Narrator Producer
    1947 What D'ya Know? Narrator Producer
    1947 Have You Ever Wondered? Narrator Producer
    1948 I Love My Mother-in-Law But... Narrator Producer
    1948 Bowling Tricks With Andy Varipapa Narrator Producer
    1948 You Can't Win Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1948 Just Suppose Narrator Producer
    1948 Ice Aces Narrator
    1948 Let's Cogitate Narrator Producer
    1949 How Come? Narrator Producer
    1949 Water Trix Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1949 Did'ja Know? Have You Ever Wondered #3 Narrator Producer
    1950 Wrong Way Butch Narrator Producer
    Nominated: Academy Award for Best Short Subject, One-reel
    1950 A Wife's Life Narrator Producer
    1950 Curious Contests Narrator Producer
    1951 Bargain Madness Narrator Producer
    1951 Bandage Bait Narrator Producer
    1951 Fishing Feats Narrator Producer
    1952 Gymnastic Rhythm Narrator Producer
    1952 I Love Children, But! Narrator Producer
    1953 The Postman Narrator Producer
    1953 Things We Can Do Without Narrator Producer
    1954 Do Someone a Favor! Narrator Producer
    1954 The Camera Caught It Narrator Producer
    1954 Rough Riding Narrator Producer
    (Color)
    1954 Fish Tales Narrator Producer
    (Color)
    1955 The Man Around the House Narrator Producer
    1955 Animals in Action Narrator Producer
    1955 Fall Guy Narrator Producer

    Home media availability

    Pete Smith’s short films are included as extras on DVDs of many classic Warner Home Video films of the era. These include:

    References
    1. "Pete Smith". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
    2. "Pete Smith". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
    3. "Specialty producer dies at 86". The Leader-Post. January 16, 1979. p. 25. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
    4. "Pete Schmid". Moving Picture World, July 20, 1918. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
    5. "Movie Ad Men in Association". The Fourth Estate. August 5, 1916. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
    6. Goofy Movies Number Ten (1934)
    7. Goofy Movies Number One (1933)
    8. Zone, Ray (2007). Stereoscopic Cinema & the Origins of 3-D Film, 1838–1952. University Press of Kentucky. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-813-12461-2.
    9. Maltin, Leonard (1972). The Great Movie Shorts. Crown Publishers. p. 145.
    10. Doherty, Thomas Patrick (2013). Hollywood's Censor: Joseph I. Breen and the Production Code Administration. Columbia University Press. pp. 1864–1865. ISBN 978-0-231-51284-8.
    11. "Following In Their Parents' Footsteps". The Sydney Morning Herald. July 6, 1937. p. 9. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
    12. "Pete Smith Weds His Secretary". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. October 22, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
    13. "Pete Smith". Toledo Blade via Google. Associated Press. January 14, 1979. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
    14. "Leap From Roof Kills Former Filmmaker". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. January 14, 1979. p. 4B.
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