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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IJiNHGA5Jk+XdiRCKkTqcTzVOELgJKPT9/0iMB8HSFYe1zpk/cJ2/zpEbDd4iQzr
 jRuKlDRIAt9ZQUcbX3PpQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-023342.txt : 20030929
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-023342.hdr.sgml : 20030929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030929200436
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-023342
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030919
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030929

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000787784
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES [8051]
		IRS NUMBER:				621674303
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 WESTWOOD PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 202
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6152212250

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCAULEY JOHN CHARLES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001265234

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13031
		FILM NUMBER:		03916162

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		610 OXFORD HOUSE
		STREET 2:		1313 21ST AVE S
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37232
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6159360661

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		610 OXFORD HOUSE
		STREET 2:		1313 21ST AVE S
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37232
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3jm.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-19</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000787784</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265234</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCAULEY JOHN CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 OXFORD HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1313 21ST AVE., S.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37232</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>No Securities Owned</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><remarks>
No securities are beneficially owned.
</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ John Charles McCauley</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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