On Sept. 27, 1954, “The Tonight Show” made its debut on NBC with host Steve Allen.

In 1964, the Beach Boys made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

In 1972, singer Rory Storme of Rory Storme and the Hurricanes killed himself in an apparent suicide pact with his mother. He reportedly couldn’t accept that his band didn’t enjoy the same success as other bands from the Liverpool scene.

In 1980, the Stray Cats were signed to Arista Records in Britain.

In 1986, bassist Cliff Burton of Metallica was killed when the band’s tour bus skidded off an icy road in Sweden. He was 24.

Also in 1986, The Beatles song “Twist and Shout” re-entered the pop charts after it was featured in the movies “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Back to School.” It eventually rose to No. 23.

In 1987, the variety show “Dolly,” starring Dolly Parton, premiered on ABC. It was canceled after one season.

In 1998, Phil Hartman’s voice was featured for the last time on “The Simpsons” as Troy McClure. Hartman was killed by his wife in a murder-suicide the previous May.