PBS’s acclaimed documentary series American Experience turns its lens on a pivotal figure in 20th-century innovation in “Mr. Polaroid,” an episode profiling Edwin Land, the visionary inventor of the Polaroid camera. The program is set to air on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET, offering an in-depth look at the man and the technology that revolutionized photography.
The documentary will chronicle the life and career of Land, whose invention of instant photography fundamentally changed how people captured and shared moments. The Polaroid camera quickly became a cultural phenomenon after its introduction, enabling amateur photographers to see their pictures develop in minutes. By the 1970s, the impact was undeniable, with over a billion Polaroid photos being taken annually worldwide, cementing its place in everyday life.
“Mr. Polaroid” also examines Land’s broader influence, particularly his innovative spirit and distinctive corporate culture, which are noted as having inspired a subsequent generation of tech leaders, including Apple’s Steve Jobs, during the tech boom of the 1990s. The film explores how this instant image technology reshaped the act of creating memories. As a long-standing recipient of numerous broadcast awards, American Experience continues its mission to illuminate compelling narratives from American history that provide context for the present day.
