<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>
                               THIS   SCHEDULE    CONTAINS   SUMMARY   FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE   CONSOLIDATED
                               BALANCE  SHEET AT JUNE 30,  1997 AND THE  RELATED
                               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OF CASH
                               FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS  ENDED JUNE 30,  1997 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>                            6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                   JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                          1
<CASH>                                                                             746,000
<SECURITIES>                                                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                      900,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                        32,000
<INVENTORY>                                                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                 1,854,000
<PP&E>                                                                             670,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                     238,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                   6,599,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                            4,687,000
<BONDS>                                                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                                              0
<COMMON>                                                                           871,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                                      (1,504,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                     6,599,000
<SALES>                                                                              9,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                 8,185,000
<CGS>                                                                                1,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                    7,459,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                   291,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                 414,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                     20,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                             0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                 20,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                        20,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                          .00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                          .00
        

</TABLE>