Elegy in an Asphalt Graveyard (2 Feb. 1975)

Two men put a cushion over a beautiful blond's mouth and then hang her from the chandelier. The ME thinks it's suicide, but Kojak believes Azure Dee was murdered. Having met her as a young ... See full summary »

Director:

Christian Nyby

Writers:

Abby Mann (creator), Jack Laird,

Stars:

Telly Savalas, Roger Robinson, Stephen Elliott

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Telly Savalas	...	Lt. Theo Kojak
Roger Robinson	...	Gil Weaver
Stephen Elliott	...	Tyler Meadows
Dan Frazer	...	Capt. Frank McNeil
Kevin Dobson	...	Det. Bobby Crocker
George Savalas	...	Det. Stavros (as Demosthenes)
John Glover	...	Billy Jo
Priscilla Pointer	...	Regina
Walter Brooke	...	Judge Lavery
Eric Christmas	...	O'Malley
Terence Locke	...	Farley (as Terrence Locke)
Jean Willes	...	Savannah
Sam Laws	...	Eddie Maxwell
Mark Giardino	...	Hamerman
Denyce Liston	...	Azure Dee

Storyline

Two men put a cushion over a beautiful blond's mouth and then hang her from the chandelier. The ME thinks it's suicide, but Kojak believes Azure Dee was murdered. Having met her as a young runaway strung out on drugs, Kojak had been proud of her progress. Azure had long since gotten clean from drugs and was now a call girl with a select and moneyed clientèle. To the consternation of his boss, Kojak insists on pursuing it as a homicide, calling attention to the total absence of personal items from her apartment. Her phone bill in the mailbox connects her to the Meadows family; her doorman provides leads regarding the males she entertained (including a judge). At her funeral, a young man shoots at Farley Meadows and is shot running away. Kojak finally puts the pieces together and arranges a confrontation in the Meadows home with all the suspects present.

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Plot Keywords:

broken neck | woman hanged | murder disguised as suicide | off screen murder | hanged woman | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1975 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Werdin Pl & E 5th St, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Azure Dee"
Lyrics by James Duff McAdams (as James McAdams)
Music by John Cacavas
Sung by Telly Savalas

User Reviews

A Personal Case For Kojak

The case is almost a personal one for series star "Theo Kojak" who is shocked to see a woman who apparently had hung herself. We know better right from the opening scene when it shows two guys entering her residence and then putting a cushion over her mouth. Since they hang her, the cause of death appears to be loss of breath....but Kojak thinks something is not kosher, despite the ME's report that she died of suffocation.

Everyone else believes that but Theo, to the consternation of his boss and a few others. Theo keeps pursuing it. The victim, "Azure Dee" was a woman who had picked herself up from gutter, got clean from drugs and was living a decent life (except for being part-time call girl). Kojak knew her in her dark, drug days, and cared about her.

This episode has a Charlie Chan-type ending with Kojak explaining to a bunch of people in a dining room what really happened and why (with the culprits included there to listen with others).

Along the way, there is riveting scene with a street junkie, "Billy Jo" He was played by John Glover in one of his early acting roles. Man, he looked young, almost like a late teen, but he could act and it's no wonder he made it in the business.