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, 1997    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, 1997.

     



J2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>                <C>      
                                             1/31/97             7/31/96
                                             Unaudited                 Audited
Assets       

Cash and cash equivalents                         $  398,000         $  120,000
Short term investments                       1,152,000          1,014,000 
Accounts receivable - net                             46,000             36,000
Inventories - net                               13,000             14,000
Intangible assets, less accumulated
  amortization of $1,949,000 and
  $1,829,000 as of 1/31/97 and
  7/31/96, respectively                            4,016,000          4,136,000
Other assets                                    55,000                  47,000
                                                                          
Total assets                                $5,680,000         $5,367,000

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Accounts payable                            $  160,000         $  112,000
Accrued expenses                               739,000            683,000
Accrued royalties                              485,000            466,000
Accrued income taxes                                  38,000             38,000
Deferred income                                217,000            213,000
Common stock payable                                 203,000            203,000
                                                                          
Total liabilities                                  1,842,000          1,715,000

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, 3,600,000
  as of 1/31/97 and 7/31/96                        8,651,000          8,648,000
Less: notes receivable on common stock              (118,000)          (115,000)
Accumulated deficit                               (4,695,000)        (4,881,000)
                                                                          
Total shareholders' equity                         3,838,000          3,652,000
                                                                          
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity        $5,680,000         $5,367,000 

</TABLE>


J2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997 AND 1996
<TABLE>
<S>                                          <C>              <C>            <C>              <C>
                                           3 mos. ended     3 mos. ended   6 mos. ended     6 mos. ended
                                             1/31/97          1/31/96                 1/31/97         1/31/96 
   


Revenues:
 Movies, television and theatrical        $ 309,000        $   8,000       $ 658,000        $ 217,000          
 Video sales, net of returns                 49,000           83,000          75,000          126,000          
 Royalty income                               1,000            3,000          28,000           17,000          
 Magazine                                         -                -           1,000            4,000          
 Other                                        5,000            9,000          19,000           33,000          
                                                                                                               
  Total revenues                            364,000          103,000         781,000          397,000          
                                                                                                               
           

Costs and expenses:
 Cost of videocassettes sold                 22,000           36,000          37,000           57,000
 Royalty expense                             13,000           13,000          25,000           20,000          
 Cost of movies, television and theatrical   53,000                -          53,000                -
 Cost of magazine                                 -           55,000               -           55,000
 Selling, general and administrative        203,000          178,000         377,000          355,000          
 Amortization of intangible assets           60,000           60,000         120,000          120,000          
                                                                                                            
  Total expenses                            351,000          342,000         612,000          607,000
                                                                                                               
Income (loss) from operations                13,000         (239,000)        169,000         (210,000)
   

Other income:
 Interest income                             12,000           20,000          24,000           35,000
                                                                                                        
                                                                           
Income (loss) before income taxes            25,000         (219,000)        193,000         (175,000)

Provision for income taxes                        -                -           7,000                -
                                                                                                        
Net income (loss)                           $25,000        ($219,000)       $186,000        ($175,000)    



Income per common share:

 Net income (loss) per share                  $0.01           ($0.06)          $0.05           ($0.05)  

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


</TABLE>


J2 COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997 AND 1996
<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>               <C>
                                           1997                      1996    

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)                      $186,000          ($175,000)  
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                  (10,000)            (21,000)
    Inventory                                   1,000               2,000
    Accounts payable                           48,000             (32,000)
    Accrued expenses                           56,000              82,000
    Accrued taxes                             -             (2,000)
    Accrued royalties                          19,000             (41,000) 
    Deferred revenues                           4,000                   -   
    Other assets                         (8,000)           (10,000)
                                                                             
    Net cash (used in) provided by  
    operating activities                      416,000             (77,000)
                                                                             

Cash flows from investing activities:

    Purchase of short-term investments       (671,000)           (528,000) 
    Sale of short-term investments            533,000             575,000
                                                                             
    Net cash (used in) provided by investing
     activities                              (138,000)                   47,000    

Cash flows from financing activities:               -                   -
                                                                             
    Net cash used in financing
     activities                                     -                   -
                                                                             
Net increase (decrease) in cash 
 and cash equivalents                         278,000             (30,000)
Cash and cash equivalents,
 beginning of period                          120,000             301,000  
                                                                             
Cash and cash equivalents,
 end of period                              $ 398,000                $  271,000    
</TABLE>

                         J2 COMMUNICATIONS
       NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
             FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997


Item 1

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

The consolidated financial statements of J2 Communications and
subsidiaries (collectively the "Company") have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for
interim financial information.  Interim financial statements do
not include all of the information and footnotes required by
generally accepted accounting principles for complete year-end
financial statements.  The accompanying financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the more detailed financial
statements and related footnotes for the fiscal year ended July
31, 1996, as included in the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form
10-K (the "Annual Report") filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  A signed independent accountant's report relating to
the July 31, 1996 balance sheet is included in the Annual Report. 
Significant accounting policies used by the Company are
summarized in Note 1 to the financial statements included in the
Annual Report.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only
recurring normal adjustments) required for a fair presentation of
the financial position of the Company as of January 31, 1997, and
the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods
ended January 31, 1997 and 1996 respectively, have been made. 
Operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended
January 31, 1997, are not necessarily indicative of the operating
results for the entire fiscal 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 1997 or 1996.


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, 1997 Versus January 31, 1996

Total revenues for the period were $364,000 compared with
$103,000 in the prior year quarter.  Movies, television and
theatrical revenues were $309,000 compared with $8,000 in the
prior year period.  In the current quarter there were substantial
payments under a movies-for-cable licensing agreement which did
not occur in the prior year quarter.  Video sales of $49,000 were
down from $83,000 recorded in the corresponding 1996 quarter. 
The Company has de-emphasized this segment of its business due to
declining profitability.
  
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to
$203,000 in the current quarter, compared with $178,000 in the
corresponding prior period.  The increase primarily reflects
higher salary costs. 

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

The net income for the current quarter was $25,000 equal to $0.01
per share compared with a net loss of $219,000 in the
corresponding prior year quarter, equal to $0.06 per share.  The
improvement is primarily due to the increase in revenues from
motion pictures.

Six Months Ended January 31, 1997 Versus January 31, 1996

Total revenues for the period were $781,000 compared with
$397,000 in the prior year period.  Movies, television and
theatrical revenues were $658,000 compared with $217,000 in the
prior period. The improvement was due primarily to an increase of
$143,000 in the profit participation from the film "National
Lampoon's Animal House" that was originally released in 1978 and
substantial licensing fee payments under a movies-for-cable
licensing agreement which did not occur in the prior year period.
Video sales of $75,000 were down from $126,000 recorded in the
corresponding 1996 period.  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
49% in the first half of fiscal 1997 compared with 45% in fiscal
1996 due primarily to price discounting in the current period.


Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to
$377,000 in the current period, compared with $355,000 in the
corresponding prior period.  The increase primarily reflects
higher salary costs.

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

The net income for the current period was $186,000 equal to $0.05
per share compared with a net loss of $175,000 in the
corresponding prior year period, equal to $0.05 per share.  The
improvement is primarily due to the increase in revenues from
motion pictures.  


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and short term investments at January 31, 1997 totaled
$1,550,000, an increase of $416,000 from the July 31, 1996 fiscal
year end.  The improvement primarily reflects net income of
$186,000, a non-cash charge of $120,000 for the amortization of
intangible assets, an increase in accrued expenses of $56,000 and
an increase in accounts payable of $48,000.

The Company has no current plans for any significant capital
expenditures in its current line of business and believes that
its current level of cash and cash equivalents, augmented by
internally generated funds, will provide sufficient cash
resources through fiscal 1997.  

The Company is considering establishing a restaurant chain to be
called "National Lampoon Cafe".  Should it enter this new line of
business, significant capital would be required.







                              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__3/10/97________         By:______________________
                                 JAMES P. JIMIRRO
                                 Chairman of the Board
                                 President




Date__3/10/97________         By:______________________
                                 BENJAMIN HO
                                 Acting Chief Financial Officer