Posted by Tina
“Reagan doesn’t have that presidential look.” – United Artists Executive, rejecting Reagan as lead in 1964 film The Best Man.
“Ours has been the first [expedition], and doubtless to be the last, to visit this profitless locality.” — Lt. Joseph Ives, after visiting the Grand Canyon in 1861.
“With over fifteen types of foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn’t likely to carve out a big share of the market for itself.” — Business Week, August 2, 1968.
“The case is a loser.” – Johnnie Cochran, on soon-to-be client O.J.’s chances of winning, 1994.
There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), maker of big business mainframe computers, arguing against the PC in 1977.
A rocket will never be able to leave the Earths atmosphere. New York Times, 1936.
There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will. Albert Einstein, 1932
The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty – a fad. The president of the Michigan Savings Bank advising Henry Fords lawyer, Horace Rackham, not to invest in the Ford Motor Co., 1903
This telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us. A memo at Western Union, 1878 (or 1876).
I must confess that my imagination refuses to see any sort of submarine doing anything but suffocating its crew and floundering at sea. HG Wells, British novelist, in 1901.
Rail travel at high speed is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia. Dr Dionysys Larder (1793-1859), professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, University College London.
Find more of these gems by googling bad predictions.
HT: Jonah Goldberg