<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          65,961
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      140 
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                        212
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                67,956
<PP&E>                                          57,354
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,357
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 163,065
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            5,015
<BONDS>                                            505
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            7,000
<PREFERRED>                                          1<F1>
<COMMON>                                             7
<OTHER-SE>                                     143,263
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   163,065
<SALES>                                          5,870
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                29,702
<CGS>                                            1,282
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   22,628
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 6,899
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (648)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       762
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,410)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (1,410)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.62)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.62)
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS PAR VALUE OF READING ENTERTAINMENT SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK.
</FN>