<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>    0000819694                     
<NAME>   Peoples Telephone Company, Inc.                     
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                         12636000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  14099000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (4919000)
<INVENTORY>                                    1687000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               25886000
<PP&E>                                         135241000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (63157000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 150248000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          29946000
<BONDS>                                        100954000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          14476000
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       162000
<OTHER-SE>                                     3843000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   150248000
<SALES>                                        62455000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               62455000
<CGS>                                          52914000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  65127000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               5000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             6002000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (8679000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (8679000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (8679000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (.57)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.57)