<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                 5
<LEGEND>
                          THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                          EXTRACTED  FROM  THE  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET  AT
                          DECEMBER   31,  1996  AND  THE  RELATED   CONSOLIDATED
                          STATEMENTS  OF  OPERATIONS  AND OF CASH  FLOWS FOR THE
                          YEAR ENDED  DECEMBER  31, 1996 OF  STRATFORD  AMERICAN
                          CORPORATION AND ITS  SUBSIDIARIES  AND IS QUALIFIED IN
                          ITS   ENTIRETY   BY   REFERENCE   TO  SUCH   FINANCIAL
                          STATEMENTS.


</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>              1
<CURRENCY>                U.S. DOLLARS

<S>                                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                                     JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                       DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                              1
<CASH>                                                                                 933,000
<SECURITIES>                                                                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                          835,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                            20,000
<INVENTORY>                                                                                  0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                       976,000
<PP&E>                                                                                 631,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                         169,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                      10,469,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                                7,025,000
<BONDS>                                                                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                  0
<COMMON>                                                                               841,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                                         (1,524,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                        10,469,000
<SALES>                                                                                  9,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                    12,862,000
<CGS>                                                                                    4,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                       12,088,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                       645,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                     565,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                      (436,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                                 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                  (436,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                         168,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         (268,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                              .00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                              .00


</TABLE>