SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C.  20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


                   QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For Quarter Ended January 31, 1996    Commission File #0-15284



                         J2 COMMUNICATIONS                       
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        California                            95-4053296         
(State or other jurisdiction         (IRS Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                 Number)


10850 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1000, Los Angeles, CA  90024         
                     (Address of principal executive office)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 310-474-5252


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days.  Yes   X      No      


Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of
common stock as of the latest practicable date:  3,599,987
common shares, no par value were outstanding as of March 4, 1996.

     



J2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                <C>            
         <C>
                                              1/31/96            7/31/95
                                             Unaudited                 Audited
Assets       

Cash and cash equivalents                         $  271,000         $  301,000
Short term investments                         907,000            954,000
Accounts receivable - net                             40,000             19,000
Inventories - net                               15,000             17,000
Intangible assets, less accumulated
  amortization of $1,708,000 and
  $1,588,000 as of 1/31/96 and
  7/31/95, respectively                            4,256,000          4,376,000
Other assets                                    10,000                     -
                                                                          
Total assets                                $5,499,000         $5,667,000

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Accounts payable                            $   77,000         $  109,000
Accrued expenses                               806,000            724,000
Accrued royalties                              462,000            503,000
Accrued income taxes                                  29,000             31,000
Deferred income                                209,000            209,000
Common stock payable                                 203,000            203,000
                                                                          
Total liabilities                                  1,786,000          1,779,000

Shareholders' Equity:

Preferred stock, no par value; authorized
  2,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding              -                    
   -

Common stock, no par value; authorized 8,000,000
  shares; issued and outstanding, 3,599,987
  as of 1/31/96 and 7/31/95                        8,646,000          8,643,000
Less: notes receivable on common stock              (113,000)          (110,000)
Accumulated deficit                               (4,820,000)        (4,645,000)
                                                                          
Total shareholders' equity                         3,713,000          3,888,000
                                                                          
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity        $5,499,000         $5,667,000 

</TABLE>



J2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>       <C>               <C> 
           <C>  
      

                                           3 mos. ended     3 mos. ended   6 mos. ended     6 mos. ended
                                             1/31/96          1/31/95                 1/31/96         1/31/95 
   


Revenues:
 Movies, television, and theatrical       $   8,000        $ 280,000       $ 217,000        $ 484,000          
 Video sales, net of returns                 83,000          127,000         126,000          169,000          
 Royalty income                               3,000            4,000          17,000           30,000          
 Magazine                                         -            2,000           4,000            5,000          
 Other                                        9,000           11,000          33,000           55,000          
                                                                                                               
  Total revenues                            103,000          424,000         397,000          743,000          
                                                                                                               
           

Costs and expenses:
 Cost of videocassettes sold                 36,000           34,000          57,000           49,000
 Royalty expense                             13,000           19,000          20,000           25,000         
 
 Cost of magazine                            55,000                -          55,000                -
 Selling, general and administrative        178,000          211,000         355,000          401,000          
 Amortization of intangible assets           60,000           60,000         120,000          120,000          
                                                                                                            
  Total expenses                            342,000          324,000         607,000          595,000
                                                                                                               
(Loss) income from operations              (239,000)         100,000        (210,000)         148,000
   

Other income:
 Interest income                             20,000           11,000          35,000           23,000
                                                                                                        
                                                                           
(Loss) income before income taxes          (219,000)         111,000        (175,000)         171,000

Provision for (benefit from) 
income taxes                                      -            2,000                -          (7,000)
                                                                                                        
Net (Loss) income                         ($219,000)        $109,000       ($175,000)        $178,000    



Income per common share:

 Net (Loss) income per share                 ($0.06)           $0.03          ($0.05)           $0.05   

 Weighted average number of shares
  of common stock outstanding             3,600,000        3,595,000       3,600,000        3,596,000

</TABLE>   
J2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS(UNAUDITED)
SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<S>                                                        <C>                    
    <C>           
                                           1996                      1995    

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net (loss) income                     ($175,000)          $178,000   
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
 net cash provided by (used in)
 operating activities:

  Amortization of intangible assets           120,000             120,000
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable, net                  (21,000)             (3,000)
    Inventory                                   2,000                -
    Accounts payable                          (32,000)            (73,000)
    Accrued expenses                           82,000                -
    Accrued taxes                        (2,000)           (25,000)
    Accrued royalties                         (41,000)             (1,000)
    Deferred revenues                               -             (10,000)
    Other assets                        (10,000)             1,000
                                                                             
    Net cash (used in) provided by 
    operating activities                      (77,000)            187,000
                                                                             

    Cash flows from investing activities:

    Redemption(purchase) of short-term         47,000            (285,000)
     investments                                                             
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing
     activities                                47,000            (285,000) 

    Cash flows from financing activities:

    Payments on notes payable                       -             (42,000)
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options         -               5,000
                                                                             
    Net cash used in financing
     activities                                     -             (37,000)
                                                                             
Net decrease in cash 
 and cash equivalents                         (30,000)           (135,000)
Cash and cash equivalents,
 beginning of period                          301,000             311,000  
                                                                             
Cash and cash equivalents,
 end of period                              $ 271,000                $  176,000
</TABLE>    

                         J2 COMMUNICATIONS
       NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
             FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996


Item 1

General

The condensed financial statements for the six months ended
January 31, 1996 are unaudited, but in the opinion of management,
all accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation of
financial position and results of operations have been made. 
These consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements in the Company's Form
10-K for the year ended July 31, 1995.  Certain information and
footnote disclosures normally included in the financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to
the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  The results of operations for the periods presented
are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for
the entire year.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share are calculated using the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period.  The
inclusion of outstanding warrants and stock options in the
earnings per share calculation would have no dilutive effect on
the earnings per share in 1996 or 1995.

Shareholders Equity

The increase in common stock during the period relates to accrued
interest on notes receivable on common stock.







               MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
         OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Results of Operations

Quarter Ended January 31, 1996 Versus January 31, 1995

Total revenues for the period were $103,000 compared with
$424,000 in the prior year quarter.  Movies, television and
theatrical revenues were $8,000 compared with $280,000 in the
prior year period.  In the prior year quarter there were
substantial payments under a movie licensing agreement which were
not repeated in the current quarter.  Video sales of $83,000 were
down from $127,000 recorded in the corresponding 1995 quarter. 
In the prior year quarter there was a successful promotion of a
popular video.  The Company has de-emphasized this segment of its
business due to declining profitability.

Cost of videocassettes sold as a percentage of sales increased to
43% in the second quarter of fiscal 1996 compared with 27% in
fiscal 1995 due primarily to price discounting in the current
quarter.

Cost of magazine primarily covered the claim by the distributor
of the magazine for costs associated with prior editions of the
magazine.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were reduced to
$178,000 in the current quarter, compared with $211,000 in the
corresponding prior period.  The decrease primarily reflects
lower salary costs.

There was no provision for income taxes in the current quarter
because of the utilization of tax loss carryforwards.

The net loss for the current quarter was $219,000 equal to $0.06
per share compared with net income of $109,000 in the
corresponding prior year quarter, equal to $0.03 per share.  The
loss was due to sharply lower revenues and higher costs
associated with publishing of the magazine only partially offset
by lower other expenses.




Six Months Ended January 31, 1996 Versus January 31, 1995

Total revenues for the period were $397,000 compared with
$743,000 in the prior year period.  Movies, television and
theatrical revenues were $217,000 compared with $484,000 in the
prior period.  In the prior year there were substantial payments
under a movie licensing agreement which were down significantly
in the current period.  Video sales of $126,000 were down from
$169,000 recorded in the corresponding 1995 period.  In the prior
year period there was a successful promotion of a popular video. 
The Company has de-emphasized this segment of its business due to
declining profitability.

Cost of videocassettes sold as a percentage of sales increased to
45% in the first half of fiscal 1996 compared with 29% in fiscal
1995 due primarily to price discounting in the current period.
  
Cost of magazine primarily covered the claim by the distributor
of the magazine for costs associated with prior editions of the
magazine.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were reduced to
$355,000 in the current period, compared with $401,000 in the
corresponding prior period.  The decrease primarily reflects
lower salary costs.

There was no provision for income taxes in the current period
because of the utilization of tax loss carryforwards.

The net loss for the current period was $175,000 equal to $0.05
per share compared with net income of $178,000 in the
corresponding prior year period, equal to $0.05 per share.  The
loss was due to sharply lower revenues and higher costs
associated with publishing of the magazine only partially offset
by lower other expenses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and short term investments at January 31, 1996 totaled
$1,178,000, a decrease of $77,000 from the July 31, 1995 fiscal
year end.

The Company has no current plans for any significant capital
expenditures and believes that its current level of cash and cash
equivalents will provide sufficient cash resources through fiscal
1996.







                              PART II

Item 1 - Legal Proceedings

         None

Item 2 - Changes in Securities

         None

Item 3 - Defaults Upon Senior Securities

         None

Item 4 - Submission Of Matters For A Vote Of Security Holders

         None

Item 5 - Other Information

         Not Applicable

Item 6 - Exhibits And Reports On Form 8-K

         Exhibit 27 Financial Data Schedule


 




                            SIGNATURES



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by its duly authorized officers.





Date_________________         By:______________________
                                 JAMES P. JIMIRRO
                                 Chairman of the Board
                                 President




Date_________________         By:______________________
                                 GARY G.COWAN
                                 Chief Financial OfficeR