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Pete Smith short, or “Specialty,” was a staple of movie-going in the 1930s to 1950s, frequently shown at newsreel theatrettes alongside newsreels, cartoons, and other short features.

Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), these shorts often featured humorous, fast-paced narration by Pete Smith, highlighting quirky, educational, or everyday activities, such as in Memory Tricks (c. 1944).

Newsreel theatrettes, common in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, provided a “short-form” cinema experience for people, particularly during WWII to catch up on news.

A typical program in 1948 included newsreels, cartoons, and a Pete Smith Short.These, along with other “featurettes,” were highly popular, often described as a “don’t miss” part of the cinema experience.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -