AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                ON JUNE 3, 1998

                      Registration Statement No. 333-25877

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                         POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

               Delaware                                  43-1813160
        (State of Incorporation)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   3231 E. 6th Street, Topeka, Kansas                    66607-2207
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)

               PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC. 1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                              (Full Title of Plan)

                                William J. Rainey
              Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
                            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.
                               3231 E. 6th Street
                            Topeka, Kansas 66607-2207
                                 (913) 233-5171
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)

                                   Copies to:

                                 Carl W. Struby
                               Lathrop & Gage L.C.
                        2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 2800
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64108
                                 (816) 460-5834



                                        






Part I

The Section 10(a) prospectus relating to the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. 1996 Stock
Incentive  Plan,  as amended  (the  "Plan") is  omitted  from this  Registration
Statement pursuant to the Note to the Instructions to Part I of Form S-8.

Part II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

         Effective  June 1,  1998,  the  Registrant's  predecessor  (also  named
Payless   ShoeSource,   Inc.  and  referred  to  herein  as  the  "Predecessor")
reorganized   its  corporate   structure  into  a  "holding   company"  form  of
organizational  structure by merging (the "Merger") with Payless Merger Corp., a
newly-formed,  wholly-owned  indirect subsidiary of the Predecessor and a direct
subsidiary  of the  Registrant.  Predecessor  was the  surviving  company in the
Merger,  and in the Merger,  each share of common stock of the  Predecessor  was
automatically  converted  into one share of  Common  Stock,  par value  $.01 per
share,  of  Registrant.  As a result of the Merger,  the  Registrant  became the
holding company and the successor issuer to the Predecessor.

         In connection with the Merger,  the Registrant  assumed the obligations
of the  Predecessor  as sponsor of the Plan.  This  post-effective  amendment is
filed  pursuant to Rule 414 under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Securities  Act"),  to reflect the adoption by Registrant of this  Registration
Statement,  as well as the Plan to which it relates, as its own for all purposes
of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The  following   documents  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

         (a) The Annual  Report of Payless  ShoeSource,  Inc. on Form 10-K (File
No. 1-11633) for the Fiscal Year ended January 31, 1998,  filed  pursuant to
Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act").

         (b) All other reports  filed by Payless  ShoeSource,  Inc.  pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 since January 31,
1998.

         (c) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock and related Rights
contained   under  the  captions  "New  Payless  Capital  Stock"  and  "Possible
Anti-takeover  Effect of Certain Provisions of the New Payless Charter,  the New
Payless Bylaws and

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the DGCL at pages 13-17 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on  Form  S-4
(File No. 333-50577).

         In  addition,  all  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant
pursuant to Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to
the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates that all securities
offered  have been  sold or which  deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining
unsold,  are incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and are a
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement  contained
herein or in a document all or a portion of which is  incorporated  or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for  purposes  of this  Registration  Statement  to the extent  that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies or  supersedes  such
statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,  except
as so modified and amended, to constitute part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

         Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         William J. Rainey,  Senior Vice  President  and General  Counsel of the
Registrant, has given an opinion to the Registrant opining as to the validity of
the Shares of Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant to the Plan.  Mr.  Rainey has
received 7,500 restricted share awards under this plan of the Registrant and has
been granted  options to purchase  31,250 shares of Common Stock under this Plan
and is eligible to receive future grants.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Registrant's  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  (the  "Charter")
provides  that  it  will  indemnify  any  person  who  was or is a  party  or is
threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding,  whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (including any action or suit by or in
the right of  Registrant)  by  reason  of the fact that such  person is or was a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of Registrant or is or was serving at the
request of  Registrant  as a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of another
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other  enterprise,  against
expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts  paid in
settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection  with
such  action,  suite or  proceeding,  but in each case only if and to the extent
permitted under applicable state or federal law. Expenses,  including attorneys'
fees,  incurred  by any  such  person  in  defending  any such  action,  suit or
proceeding shall be paid or

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reimbursed  by Registrant  in advance of the final  disposition  of such action,
suit or proceeding  upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person to repay
such  expenses  if it shall  ultimately  be  determined  that such person is not
entitled to be indemnified by Registrant.

         The  Charter  further  states  that the  right to  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses  provided  therein shall not be deemed  exclusive of any
other rights to which those  indemnified may be entitled,  and shall continue as
to a person  who has ceased to be a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, and personal  representatives of such a
person.

         Section 145 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("DGCL") permits a
corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses  (including
attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and
reasonably  incurred by them in connection  with any action,  suit or proceeding
brought by third parties,  if such directors or officers acted in good faith and
in a  manner  they  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to the  best
interests  of the  corporation  and,  with  respect  to any  criminal  action or
proceeding, had no reason to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative
action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation,  indemnification may be
made only for  expenses  actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by  directors  and
officers in connection  with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and
only with  respect  to a matter as to which  they shall have acted in good faith
and in a manner  they  reasonably  believed  to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation,  except that no  indemnification  shall be made if
such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation,  unless and only
to the  extent  that the court in which the  action  or suit was  brought  shall
determine upon application that the defendant,  officers or directors are fairly
and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication
of liability.

         As permitted by Section  102(b) (7) of the DGCL,  the Charter  provides
that no director of Registrant  will be liable to Registrant or its  shareowners
for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a director,  except for
liability (1) for any breach of the director's  duty of loyalty to Registrant or
its  shareowners;  (2) for acts or omissions  not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law; (3) under Section 174 of
the DGCL; or (4) for any transaction  from which a director  derived an improper
benefit.

         Registrant  has  entered  into  indemnification  agreements  with  each
director  and  certain  executive  officers  of  Registrant.   Generally,   each
indemnification  agreement provides, among other things, (i) for indemnification
to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses,  judgments,  fines,
penalties  incurred in connection  with,  and amounts paid in settlement of, any
claim against the indemnified party,  provided it is determined  pursuant to the
agreement that the indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified

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under the applicable standard of conduct under the DGCL; (ii) for advancement of
expenses to the indemnitee in connection  with the  indemnitee's  defense of any
threatened or pending claim,  provided that if it is determined  pursuant to the
agreement  that the indemnitee  would not be permitted to be  indemnified  under
applicable law,  Registrant shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the indemnitee
for all such amounts  previously paid; (iii) for the creation of a trust for the
benefit  of the  indemnitee  in the event of a  potential  change in  control of
Registrant  which  shall  be  funded  from  time to time at the  request  of the
indemnitee  in an amount  sufficient  to  satisfy  Registrant's  indemnification
obligations under the agreement; and (iv) that no legal action be brought and no
cause of action be asserted by or on behalf of Registrant against the indemnitee
after the expiration of the earlier of the applicable  statute of limitations or
two  years  after  the  date  of  accrual  of  such  cause  of  action.  Similar
indemnification agreements may be entered into from time to time with additional
officers of  Registrant.  In addition,  Registrant has purchased a directors and
officers liability insurance policy.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.


         3.1      Restated    Certificate   of   Incorporation   of   Registrant
                  (Incorporated   herein  by   reference   to  Exhibit  3.1  to
                  Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577)
                  filed June 3, 1998).

         3.2      Bylaws of  Registrant  (Incorporated  herein by  reference  to
                  Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K (File
                  No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

         4        Registrant's    Stockholder   Rights   Protection    Agreement
                  (Incorporated   herein  by   reference   to  Exhibit  4  to
                  Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577)
                  filed June 3, 1998).

        *5        Opinion of Counsel as to the legality of the securities being
                  registered hereby

       *23.1      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

       *23.2      Consent of Counsel  (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit
                  5 to this Registration Statement)

       *24        Powers of Attorney

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        99        Payless ShoeSource, Inc. 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended
                  April 20, 1998  (incorporated  herein by  reference  to
                  Exhibit  99.2 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K
                  (File No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

           *Filed Herewith

         **Previously Filed

Item 9. Undertakings.

         (a)      The Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                            (i)  to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                            (ii) to  reflect  in the  prospectus  any  facts  or
events arising after the effective date of the Registration  Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or  in
 the  aggregate,  represent  a fundamental change in the information set forth
in the Registration Statement;

                            (iii)  to  include  any  material  information  with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously  disclosed in the
Registration  Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement.

     Provided,  however,  that paragraphs 1.(a)(i) and 1.(a)(ii) do not apply if
the information  required to be included in a post-effective  amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant  pursuant to
Section  13 or Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;

                (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933,  each  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                (3) To remove  from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.


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          (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and  where  applicable,  each  filing  of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934) that is  incorporated  by  reference  in this
Registration  Statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers, and controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses  incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.




                                        7





                                   SIGNATURES

The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this  Amendment
No. 1 to Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Topeka,  State of Kansas, on the  2nd
day of June, 1998.

                                PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.

                                By:   /s/Ullrich E. Porzig
                                      Name:  Ullrich E. Porzig
                                      Title: Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer


Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:

    Signature                        Title                               Date

/s/Steven J. Douglass*      Director, Chairman of the Board and   June 2, 1998
Steven J. Douglass          Chief Executive officer (Principal
                            Executive officer)

/s/Richard A. Jolosky*      Director and President                June 2, 1998
Richard A. Jolosky 

/s/Ullrich E. Porzig*       Senior Vice President and Chief       June 2, 1998
Ullrich E. Porzig           Financial Officer (Principal Financial
                            Officer)

/s/Ronald A. Cooperman*     Controller                            June 2, 1998
Ronald A. Cooperman

/s/Howard R. Fricke*        Director                              June 2, 1998
Howard R. Fricke

/s/Thomas A. Hays*          Director                              June 2, 1998
Thomas A. Hays

                                       8


/s/Michael E. Murphy*       Director                              June 2, 1998
Michael E. Murphy

/s/Richard L. Stark*        Director                              June 2, 1998
Richard L. Stark

/s/Daniel Boggan, Jr.*      Director                              June 2, 1998
Daniel Boggan, Jr.

/s/Mylle B. Mangum*         Director                              June 2, 1998
Mylle B. Mangum

* By:    /s/Ullrich E. Porzig
         Ullrich E. Porzig
         Attorney-in-Fact




                                        9





         3.1      Restated    Certificate   of   Incorporation   of   Registrant
                  (Incorporated   herein  by   reference   to  Exhibit  3.1  to
                  Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577)
                  filed June 3, 1998).

         3.2      Bylaws of  Registrant  (Incorporated  herein by  reference  to
                  Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K (File
                  No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

         4        Registrant's    Stockholder   Rights   Protection    Agreement
                  (Incorporated   herein  by   reference   to  Exhibit  4  to
                  Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577)
                  filed June 3, 1998).

        *5        Opinion of Counsel as to the legality of the securities being
                  registered hereby

       *23.1      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

       *23.2      Consent of Counsel (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit
                  5 to this Registration Statement)

       *24        Powers of Attorney

        99        Payless ShoeSource, Inc. 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended
                  April 20, 1998  (incorporated  herein by  reference to Exhibit
                  99.2 of the Registrant's  Current Report on From 8-K (File No.
                  333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

*Filed Herewith
**Previously Filed





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