<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000819694
<NAME> PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
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<SALES>                                    112,235,000
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