Paul Girard Smith

Infobox actor
bgcolour = silver
name = Paul Girard Smith


imagesize =
caption =
birthdate = 14 September, 1894
location = Omaha, Nebraska, USA
height =
deathdate = 4 April, 1968
deathplace = San Diego, California, USA
yearsactive = 1926-1955
birthname =
othername = Paul Gerald Smith
Paul Gerard Smith
homepage =
academyawards =

Paul Girard Smith (14 September, 1894 – 4 April, 1968), was an American screenwriter. He wrote for 90 films between 1926 and 1955.

Smith started writing musical revues at the age of ten. He joined the Marines for World War I and while still in Germany wrote and directed the Sixth Marine Revue in the Rhine Occupation Area. He arrived back in the States in 1919 and started writing vaudeville acts. He became so successful that he was one of the few writers to be credited on the playbill. He scripted the Ziegfield Follies of 1924, 1925, and 1926 and was also one of the writers of "Funny Face".

Smith was brought to Hollywood by Buster Keaton to work on "The General" and "The Battling Butler". Early film credits include "In Old Arizona", "Mother Knows Best", and "Dressed To Kill", as well as the first talkies of Harold Lloyd, "Welcome Danger" and "Feet First". He wrote dozens of B-movies for Universal Studios, Fox Film Corporation, Paramount Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures, Warner Bros., and Hal Roach Studios.

He also scripted USO shows and personal appearances for many film and radio stars entertaining overseas. After World War II he returned to film and radio scripting and also wrote and directed some early television programs on ABC, including "The Gay Nineties". He returned to stage writing with "Hullabaloo" for the Pasadena Playhouse.

Smith was married to Mary Alice Lundgren (October 1919 - April 1968) and had four children. His son, Paul Gerard Smith II, carried on the family tradition, working in the entertainment industry after serving in the Marines during World War II.

He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and died in San Diego, California.

elected filmography

* Heavenly Music (1943)
* Just Around the Corner (1938)
* Ditto (1937)
* Jail Bait (1937)
* Ladies in Love (1936)
* The Circus Clown (1934)
* Speedy (1928)
* The General (1927)

External links

*imdb name|id=0809548|name=Paul Girard Smith
* [http://vaudeville.org/index_files/Page422.htm American Vaudville Museum biography]

Persondata
NAME= Smith, Paul Girard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Screenwriter
DATE OF BIRTH= 14 September, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH= Omaha, Nebraska USA
DATE OF DEATH= 4 April, 1968
PLACE OF DEATH= San Diego, California USA