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Arts & Culture

All Things Bakelite: The Age Of Plastic

Girl wearing a Bakelite bracelet. “All Things Bakelite: The Age Of Plastic” is a joyous and provocative one-hour documentary that captures both the wonder and the curse of chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland's biggest invention - the first wholly synthetic plastic.
Courtesy of NETA Program Service
Girl wearing a Bakelite bracelet. “All Things Bakelite: The Age Of Plastic” is a joyous and provocative one-hour documentary that captures both the wonder and the curse of chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland's biggest invention - the first wholly synthetic plastic.

Airs Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

“All Things Bakelite: The Age Of Plastic” is a joyous and provocative one-hour documentary that captures both the wonder and the curse of chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland's biggest invention - the first wholly synthetic plastic.

One of the greatest stories of science never told comes alive using re-enactments; rare archival footage and personal diaries; interviews with scientists, historians, and artists; and a highly entertaining original score.

Its lively pace and quirky style appeals to anyone interested in the human drama that underlies history, science, business, and design.

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The film's 2019 release on public television stations coincides with the 110th anniversary year of the Bakelite patent.

"All Things Bakelite" is on Facebook.

All Things Bakelite: The Age Of Plastic: Trailer

Credits:

Executive Producer: Hugh Karraker (a great grandson of L.H. Baekeland). Director: John Maher. Editor: Craig Mikhitarian. Music Composer: Martin J. Fegy.