Exhibit 99.1

                  TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
                      Contact:              John Sullivan
                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                            (518) 452-1242 ext. 400

                  THE MWW GROUP
                      Investor Relations:   (201) 507-9500
                      Contact:              Robert Ferris -- rferris@mww.com

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  SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT/CAMELOT MUSIC HOLDINGS MERGER

     Albany, NY, April 22, 1999 -- Trans World Entertainment Corporation (Nasdaq
National Market: TWMC) announced that its has closed on the merger with Camelot
Music Holdings (OTC BB: CMHDA). The merger was approved today at special
shareholder meetings held separately by the Company and Camelot Music Holdings.
Each Camelot shareholder will receive 1.9 newly issued shares of Trans World
Entertainment common stock for each Camelot share, resulting in the issuance of
approximately 20.7 million new shares. The transaction will be accounted for as
a tax-free pooling-of-interests and is expected to be immediately accretive to
earnings. 

     "With over a billion in sales and 1,000 retail outlets, this merger creates
the largest music retailer in the nation," said Robert J. Higgins, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Trans World Entertainment Corporation. "The
combination of the two companies creates a single entity with increased
financial strength, highly efficient operations and the strongest and most
recognized group of music industry brand names. We are extremely excited about
this merger and the value it brings to our shareholders."

                                     -more-


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     Mr. Higgins will retain the titles of Chairman, CEO and President of the
combined company, which will operate under the name Trans World Entertainment
Corporation. In addition, the combined company has named Michael Solow and
George Zoffinger, both former Directors of Camelot Music Holdings, to be outside
directors of the combined Company's Board of Directors.

     Trans World Entertainment is a leading specialty retailer of music and
video products. The Company operates 498 retail stores in 33 states, the
District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and an e-commerce site,
www.twec.com. Mall locations include Record Town, Saturday Matinee and F.Y.E.
Freestanding locations include Coconuts Music and Movies, Strawberries Music,
and Planet Music.

     Camelot Music Holdings operates 482 retail stores in 37 states and Puerto
Rico under the names Camelot Music, The Wall and Spec's.



Certain statements in this report set forth management's intentions, plans,
beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future based on current facts and
analyses. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such
statements. Additional information on factors that may affect the business and
financial results of the Company can be found in filings of the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


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