<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                               THIS   SCHEDULE    CONTAINS   SUMMARY   FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE   CONSOLIDATED
                               BALANCE  SHEET  AT  SEPTEMBER  30,  1996  AND THE
                               RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
                               OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
                               30, 1996 OF STRATFORD  AMERICAN  CORPORATION  AND
                               ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                               BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CURRENCY>                                                          U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                         SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
<CASH>                                                                 1,024,000
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            502,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                         909,000
<PP&E>                                                                   575,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           190,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         4,095,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                  4,168,000
<BONDS>                                                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    841,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                                           (1,655,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           4,694,000
<SALES>                                                                  696,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                      10,700,000
<CGS>                                                                    518,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                         10,064,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       369,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        (238,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    (238,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           (238,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                .00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                .00
                                                                     

</TABLE>