Pete Smith

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.

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, we see how real-life investigator Jo Goggin used a motion picture surveillance camera to gather evidence and disprove a fraudulent insurance claim.

This Pete Smith Specialty shows newsreel footage events that live up to the title. They include, among others, a diaper derby (the father who puts a diaper on his child fastest wins), a fireman's ball (two teams of fire fighters use high-pressure water hoses to move a large ball to score goals), and a basket race (men run a footrace while balancing a "tower" of ten baskets on their heads).

In this "Pete Smith Specialty Short," advice is given on how to deal with certain common pests.

An amusing short film that looks at human and animal babies.

In this short film, champion fisherman Ernie St. Claire tries to catch a large salmon in Oregon's Rogue River.

This Pete Smith Specialty short shows, humorously, the disastrous results when people save their money in unsafe places.

In this comedic Pete Smith Specialty short, average housewife Mrs. George T. Hardnose's day is recalled.

This comedic short looks at human foibles that lead to major aggravations.

With Pete Smith providing dry off-screen commentary, we watch some serious fishing: a marlin caught near Catalina, a hammerhead shark caught then wrestled in a small rowboat near Baja, the largest (721 pounds) great white shark caught to date in California waters, Chinook Indians catching salmon at Celilo Falls in Oregon - each with his designated place on the river where his ancestors stood, and, last, a crew on a boat off Mexico hoisting and hurling tuna using unbarbed hooks (baited only with a feather) as fast as they can as long as the school is there - backbreaking work - but a $25,000 catch.

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a friendly do-gooder's good deeds backfire.

Narrator Pete Smith talks about the different kinds of neighbors that can be pests, and how to deal with them.

This humorous Pete Smith Specialty short looks around various studios on a film lot.

Demonstrates how accidents happen when proper safety devices are neglected.

An examination of the problem of the house guest who has overstayed is welcome, and how to get rid of him.

A short film where viewers are given 10 or 15 seconds to answer questions about the United States and its involvement in World War II.

A Pete Smith Specialty. Chef Prudence Penny gives hints on cooking.

Another in the long series of "Pete Smith" shorts from M-G-M in which William Newell meets and falls in love with Sally Payne, and begins to budget for their plans to get married. His budget, alas, does not include nor anticipate the plans of Sally and her parents. This short was reissued in June of 1950 to be shown as a trailer with 1950's "Father of the Bride" and some sources think this short was made for that express purpose and date it as a 1950 film.

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, clips from several unidentified silent films are woven into a story, with humorous commentary by Smith.

This Pete Smith Specialty is a humorous look at a student's first flying lesson, in a propeller-driven biplane.

The unusual talents of Johnny Price, a minor league baseball pitcher and trick artist, are showcased in this Pete Smith Specialty. Among other talents, Mr. Price can throw two (and, in certain situations three) baseballs simultaneously to different people. The catchers can be side by side, with one high and one low, or standing on the pitcher's mound and second base while Price throws the ball from the catcher's position. He can even perform these feats while suspended upside-down.

In this short, members of the California Water Bugs club demonstrate new ways to get thrills when water skiing.

A demonstration of trick shots by champion bowler Andy Varipapa.

This Pete Smith Specialty short provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Ice Capades practices with ice skating favorites of the time.

This short film focuses on a day in the life of a Hollywood talent scout assigned to cast animals.

This short film shows U.S. Marines in training at a number of unidentified bases, with a focus on hand-to-hand combat.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are stopped by narrator Pete Smith for the purpose of showing the audience how much wood and wood by-products the average person carries.

A few different methods that are supposed to help with memorization are presented

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.

Wartime housekeeping tips by a home-economics pro who comes to the aid of a bumbling, vertically challenged husband and his statuesque bride.

This Pete Smith Specialty shows water-safety and life-saving techniques taught by the American Red Cross to advanced swimmers.

A "Pete Smith Specialty" short that looks at legendary movie stuntman Harry Woolman planning and rehearsing stunts for films.

In this Pete Smith Speciality, the audience is asked a series of multiple-choice questions on various subjects.

A humorous look at various circus and other acrobatic feats. One of the "Pete Smith Specialties" produced and narrated by "A Smith named Pete."

Fala was the famous Scotch Terrier owned by Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his last two presidential terms.

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, answers are sought regarding some things people may have wondered about.

A Pete Smith Specialty. The annual compendium of highlights from last season's major intercollegiate gridiron classics.

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a series of vignettes illustrate some ways that mothers-in-law irritate, and/or cause problems for, their son-in-law.

This Pete Smith Specialty showcases a group called the Water Bugs. Its members devise new ways to experience thrills on the waters of California lakes. Included in this film are paddle boats with outboard motors, two people using a single pair of water skis, and a water skier towed by a low-flying airplane.

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.

This short film presents several athletes preparing for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

Beautiful women allow men to crack whips and throw horseshoes at their heads.

A dog accused of murdering sheep is brought to trial.

A chef helps a housewife cook a duck dinner that will not give her husband indigestion.

A humorous history of the bicycle since 1819.

Modern meteorology and a hard-working government weather team put their science and organization to work as a cold front moves from Alaska toward the citrus groves of Southern California. First, the scientists predict the storm's course, giving several days' warning to farmers and growers. The growers, typified by the Morgan family, prepare the oil-burning pots throughout their grove. Then, as the temperature dips below freezing, they light the pots. The cold snap continues as oil-supplies dwindle; the smoky air slows traffic, including trucks bringing more oil. The scientists strive to predict how long freezing temperatures will last: can the Morgans hold out?

Swing High is a 1932 American Pre-Code short documentary film directed by Jack Cummings. In 1932, it was nominated for an Academy Award at the 5th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (Novelty). The film documents The Flying Codonas, a family of flying trapeze artists.

A "Pete Smith Specialty" - a fairly serious look at radio hams in the usual jokey format. Shows aircraft using morse code.

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.

This Pete Smith Sports Champion short visits Southern California where it quickly moves from orange orchards to the mountain snow playground at Big Pines L.A. County Camp for some winter sports including sledding, skating, and ski jumping.

1938 short film starring Prudence Penny.

The Green Bay Packers teach football tips.

A satire on movie newsreels combines with humorous narration of silent screen footage in this one reel comedy short.

Re-enactment of how the 726-carat Jonker diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 by the family of Jacobus Jonker; how it was sold to Harry Winston; and how it was cut by Lazarre Kaplan.

Despite the school just having won an important basketball game, its students are more interested in one of its teachers, namely Charles C. Peterson, who teaches them in the fine art of playing billiards.

This Pete Smith Specialty short showcases former heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer with various sparring partners in the ring. Slow motion is used to illustrate how Baer uses his skills.

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?

An exmination of the sport of championship diving.

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 Awards

After the audience is instructed how to use the 3-D glasses they received, demonstrations of three-dimensional films are presented. Various objects move towards the camera, including a ladder being shoved out a window, the slide on a trombone, a woman on a swing, and a thrown baseball.