Hit the ground with one's hat (1962)

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

   DARE has "hit the ground/floor with one's hat" from 1966-68.  This was given in answer to the DARE question: "A person who is thoroughly drunk."  I can do a little better (this NYU database is missing the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR).


(PROQUEST HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS)
  'Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' Opens at Capitol Theatre; New York Times (1857-Current file), New York, N.Y.; May 24, 1962; pg. 29, 1 pgs
("At any rate, the mystery of who actually did the shooting of the villain, a deed that eventually catapults Mr. Stewart into national eminence, is explained.  But to a moderately alert observer, it is hardly an enigma since it is strongly stressed that Mr. Stewart couldn't hit the floor with his hat.")

(NYU also has AMERICAN FILM SCRIPTS ONLINE.  This film script is not included.  It's just not a very useful database--ed.)