LES OTTEN, MORE PROFIT: AMERICAN SKIING CO. REPORTS GAINS

          ME-based American Skiing Co. announced that total
     revenues for the second quarter, ended January 25, increased
     to $115.3M from $61.2M for the comparable period last year. 
     Net income for the second quarter of '97 was $6.6M, versus
     $.4M for the prior year.  Resort revenue, which excludes
     revenues from real estate properties, increased to $107.4M
     from $59.4M in the second quarter of '96.  America Skiing
     Co.'s total skier visits increased by 10.9% (ASC).
          MORE ON LES: In Boston, Stephen Jermanok profiled
     American Skiing Chair & CEO Les Otten: "The jury is still
     out on whether Otten has improved the American ski
     experience ... but even the purists admire what he has done
     to keep the sport alive. ... No one in the ski industry will
     be surprised if ASC continues to gobble up more ski resorts
     around the country.  As its stock filing states: 'The
     Company intends to consider acquisitions of large, well-
     established destination resorts'" (BOSTON MAGAZINE, 2/98).