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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ulv3YDHxDOKNtGpb0KH4IQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-024171.txt : 20041228
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-024171.hdr.sgml : 20041228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041228171935
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-024171
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041228

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000795212
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL- COMPUTER & PRERECORDED TAPE STORES [5735]
		IRS NUMBER:				141541629
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5184521242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS WORLD MUSIC CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIGGINS ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900603
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14818
		FILM NUMBER:		041229111

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		C/O TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5184521242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		STREET 2:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000795212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TWMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000900603</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIGGINS ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>38 CORPORATE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBANY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.72</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12254429</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.72</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>137500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Higgins Family Foundation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction represents a gift of shares to the Higgins Family Foundation, reported voluntarily and is exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert J, Higgins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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