Pete Smith (film producer)
Pete Smith (actually Peter Schmidt, born September 4, 1892 in New York City, New York, USA, † January 12, 1979 in Santa Monica, California ) was an American film producer, who through his " Specialties " humorous documentary short films, was known.
Biography
After completing a business school Pete Smith began to work in some magazines as a journalist. Even the silent movie era, he began to lead the publicity department of the production company " Famous Players - Lasky ." The director Marshall Neilan hired him for his own studio. Smith moved it over to Hollywood.
As Neilans company was closed, Smith worked as a freelancer for a short time. In 1925 he was engaged by Metro -Goldwyn -Mayer as director of the Publicity Department. He remained in this position until 1930. 1931 Smith began to produce a series of short films, by which he achieved fame in the public. The series, " Pete Smith Specialty " was a series of short documentaries that were moderated itself humorous Smith. By 1954, Smith has produced over 150 of these short films. 16 of them have been nominated for an Academy Award, two-time Smith could receive an Oscar. There was no unified theme, Smith reported in his Specialties about all sorts of topics, from the latest scientific and technological achievements to a description of everyday problems.
Pete Smith retired in 1954 back from the film business. He had produced enough short films that took place until 1955 premieres. Smith lived in Santa Monica retired. His health was not the best, he had to spend a lot of time in hospitals. In 1979, his condition had deteriorated so that he on January 12, plunged from the window of his hospital room on the ninth floor of a hospital.
Pete Smith has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1625 Vine Street address.