<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       
                               THIS   SCHEDULE    CONTAINS   SUMMARY   FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE   CONSOLIDATED
                               BALANCE  SHEET AT MARCH 31,  1997 AND THE RELATED
                               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OF CASH
                               FLOWS FOR THE THREE  MONTHS  ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
                               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>                             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                            JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                              MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                     1
<CASH>                                                      1,339,000
<SECURITIES>                                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 771,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   26,000
<INVENTORY>                                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            2,254,000
<PP&E>                                                        649,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                                203,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             10,625,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       7,163,000
<BONDS>                                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                      871,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                (1,307,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               10,625,000
<SALES>                                                         1,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                            4,416,000
<CGS>                                                           1,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                               3,765,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              202,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            231,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               217,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                                        0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           217,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  217,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                     .00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     .00
        

</TABLE>