<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000819694
<NAME>                        Peoples Telephone Company, Inc.
       
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                   10354000
<SECURITIES>                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                            12718000
<ALLOWANCES>                             (4116000)
<INVENTORY>                              1801000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         23391000
<PP&E>                                   135597000
<DEPRECIATION>                           (66838000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           142255000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    26339000
<BONDS>                                  100808000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    14777000
<PREFERRED>                              0
<COMMON>                                 162000
<OTHER-SE>                               (563000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             142255000
<SALES>                                  93449000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         93449000
<CGS>                                    79514000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            97360000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         (1495000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       9667000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          (12083000)
<INCOME-TAX>                             0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      (12083000)
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                             (12083000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            (0.79)
<EPS-DILUTED>                            (0.79)