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               Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )

Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /

Check the appropriate box:
/ /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
/X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
/ /  Definitive Additional Materials
/ /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to  240.14a-11(c) or  240.14a-12

                           PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
             (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                           Lee G. Christianson
                 (Name of Person Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/ /  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).

/ /  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).

/ /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 00-11.

     1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

     2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

     3)   Per unit price or underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
          to Exchange Act Rule 0.11:

     4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined.

/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
     Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
     paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     1)   Amount Previously Paid:

     2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     3)   Filing Party:

     4)   Date Filed:

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                            PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
                              2008 21st Street
                                P.O. Box 832
                       Bakersfield, California  93302
                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                June 7, 2001

To the shareholders:

     NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the
"Annual Meeting") of Pyramid Oil Company (the "Company") will be held at the
Corporate Offices of Pyramid Oil Company, 2008-21st Street, Bakersfield,
California 93301, on Thursday, June 7, 2001 at 10:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight
Time, for the following purposes:

     1.   To elect a Board of Directors for the ensuing year; and

     2.   To approve the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as independent
          auditors for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2001;
          and

     3.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the
          Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     Information concerning these matters, including the names of the nominees
for the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), is set forth in the
attached Proxy Statement included in this notice.

     Holders of the Company's Common Stock at the close of business on April
9, 2001, the record date fixed by the Board, are entitled to notice of and to
vote at the Annual Meeting.  The Board urges that all shareholders of record
exercise their right to vote personally at the meeting or by proxy.

     A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders containing finan-
cial statements and other information of interest to shareholders is enclosed
herewith.  You are urged to read the enclosure.

     All shareholders are requested to read the enclosed Proxy Statement and
to sign, date and complete the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the
accompanying postage prepaid, pre-addressed envelope, whether or not they
attend the meeting, to assure that their shares will be represented.  Any
shareholder giving a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before it is
voted.

     Your prompt response will be appreciated.

                                    By Order of the Board of Directors
                                    Lee G. Christianson, Secretary
Bakersfield, California
April 30, 2001

PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE, IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT YOUR VOTES ARE COUNTED.
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                             PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
                               2008 21st Street
                                 P.O. Box 832
                        Bakersfield, California  93302

                              ----------------
                               PROXY STATEMENT

                        ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                 June 7, 2001
                               ----------------

                              PROXY SOLICITATION

     This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by
the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Pyramid Oil Company (the "Company")
of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company
(the "Annual Meeting") to be held on June 7, 2001, and at any adjournment or
adjournments thereof.  This Proxy Statement, together with the accompanying
proxy, is first being mailed to shareholders on or about May 10, 2001.  You
are requested to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in order to
ensure that a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company (the "Common Stock") are represented at the meeting.

     Any proxy given by a shareholder of the Company may be revoked at any
time before it is voted by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person
or by filing with the Secretary of the Company an instrument revoking the
proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date.  If the enclosed form of
proxy is properly executed and returned, the Common Stock represented thereby
will be voted in accordance with the instructions given by the proxy.  IF NO
INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THE COMMON STOCK WILL BE VOTED "FOR" (1) APPROVAL OF
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS NAMED HEREIN; AND (2) THE
RATIFICATION OF THE COMPANY'S SELECTION OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS THE
COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2001. If any
other matters are properly presented at the meeting, or any adjournment
thereof, the persons voting the proxies will vote according to their best
judgment.

     Solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, although some
solicitation will be by telephone, telegraph or personal interview.  Proxies
may be solicited by officers, directors and regular employees of the Company.
The Company will not pay any additional compensation for such solicitations.
Arrangement may be made with brokerage houses and with the Company's transfer
agent, U.S. Stock Transfer, Glendale, California, to send notices, proxy
statements, proxies and other materials to shareholders.  The cost for such
services is expected to be nominal and will be borne by the Company.






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                             RECORD DATE AND VOTING

     Only holders of the Company's Common Stock at the close of business on
April 9, 2001, shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting.  Transferees of Common Stock which are transferred on the books of
the Company subsequent to such date shall not be entitled to notice of or to
vote at the Annual Meeting.

     As of April 9, 2001, there were outstanding 2,494,430 shares of Common
Stock entitled to vote.  A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote whether present or in person or by proxy constitutes a
quorum for the conduct of business at the Annual Meeting.  Abstentions will be
treated as shares present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining
the presence of a quorum.  Unless cumulative voting is requested by a
shareholder, each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for the
election of each director of the Company.  Under the California General
Corporation Law, if a shareholder gives notice prior to the commencement of
voting on the election of directors of his or her intention to cumulate his or
her votes then all shareholders (or their proxies) may cumulate their votes.
No cumulative voting will occur if no such notice is given.

     Cumulative voting permits each shareholder to cast an aggregate number of
votes equal to the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of
directors to be elected; all of such votes may be cast for a single nominee or
may be allocated among any two or more nominees as the shareholder wishes.

     If a proxy is marked "FOR" the election of directors, it may, at the
discretion of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy (the "Proxy
Holders"), be voted cumulatively in the election of directors.  In the absence
of cumulative voting, a simple majority of the shares voting will elect all of
the Directors.  Under either form of voting, the five nominees receiving the
highest number of votes will be elected as directors.

     Each share entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be entitled to one
vote for the ratification of the Company's independent auditors.  The
ratification of the independent auditors requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Common Stock represented and eligible to vote at the Annual
Meeting.  Accordingly, abstentions from voting on the ratification will have
the effect of a vote "AGAINST" the ratification.

     If you hold your shares of Common Stock in "street name" and you fail to
instruct your broker or nominee as to how to vote your stock, your broker or
nominee may, in its discretion, vote your shares "FOR" the election of the
Board's nominees for directors and "FOR" the proposal to ratify Arthur
Andersen LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2001.

                           ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     Directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the next
annual meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified.  Unless
authority to vote for directors is withheld in the proxy card, it is the

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intention of the Proxy Holders to vote for the election of the following five
persons as directors:  John H. Alexander, J. Ben Hathaway, Thomas W. Ladd,
Gary L. Ronning and John E. Turco.

     The Board has been informed that all nominees are willing to serve as
directors. If any of them should decline or be unable to act as a director,
the Proxy Holders will vote for the election of another person or persons as
they, in their discretion, may choose.  The Board has no reason to believe any
nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve.

     The nominees for election as directors of the Company are as follows:



                                                       Director   Officer
      Name         Age       Position(1)                Since      Since
     -----        ----      -----------                --------   -------
                                                      
J. Ben Hathaway     61    President, Chief Executive      1984        1986
                             Officer and Director
John H. Alexander   53    Vice President and Director     1984        1986
Thomas W. Ladd      52    Director                        1998          --
Gary L. Ronning     58    Director                        1998          --
John E. Turco       70    Director                        1996          --



    (1) Position listed is that held with the Company.

J. BEN HATHAWAY

     Mr. Ben Hathaway has been an independent oil and gas operator and
President of Marlyn Company, an oil and gas production company located in
Bakersfield, California.  Mr. Ben Hathaway has been President of Marlyn
Company since 1973.

JOHN H. ALEXANDER

     Mr. Alexander has been an independent oil operator and President of
Alexander Oil Company, Newport Beach, California.  Alexander Oil Company is
an oil and gas production company.  Mr. Alexander has been President of
Alexander Oil Company since 1970.

THOMAS W. LADD

    Mr. Ladd is President and Chairman of the Board of Tetra Oil Company which
is engaged in petroleum lease acquisition, exploration and operations, since
1979.  Mr. Ladd is also an independent geologist, offering consulting services
in petroleum, government compliance, environmental assessments and co-
generation development.


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GARY L. RONNING

     Mr. Ronning is currently Senior Vice President of Ferguson/GDM Offshore
Resources, LTD. and Senior Vice President for other Ferguson companies.  Mr.
Ronning has been with Ferguson Energy, an independent oil and gas exploration
company, since 1967.  Mr. Ronning has had several positions with Ferguson
Energy.


JOHN E. TURCO

     Since 1988, Mr. Turco has been a private investor, primarily in
agricultural businesses.


     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE
NOMINEES NAMED.  PROXIES RETURNED TO THE COMPANY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE
NOMINEES NAMED UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED.

          SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Under the federal securities laws, the Company's directors, executive
officers, and any person holding more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock
are required to report their ownership of the Company's securities and any
changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Specific
due dates for these reports have been established, and the Company is required
to report any failures to file by these dates.  The Company knows of no
instances of persons who have failed to file or have delinquently filed
Section 16(a) reports within the most recently completed fiscal year.


                 IDENTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS



                                                               Officer
          Name                Age           Position            Since
          ----                ---           --------           -------
                                                      
     J. Ben Hathaway           61       President and Chief      1986
                                         Executive Officer
     John H. Alexander         53       Vice President           1986



The biographical descriptions of Mr. Hathaway and Mr. Alexander are included
under "Election of Directors."





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        SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND NOMINEES

     The following table sets forth certain information as of April 9, 2001,
with respect to beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by the
Company's officers and nominees for election as directors. The number of
shares owned are those "beneficially owned", as determined under rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The information disclosed below is not
necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.
Beneficial ownership as described below, includes any shares of Common Stock
as to which the director has sole or shared voting power or investment power
pursuant to a discretionary account or similar arrangement.



                                                    Percentage of
                                      Shares         Outstanding
        Name and Title (1)           Owned (2)     Common Stock(3)
        -----------------            --------      ---------------
                                             
       J. Ben Hathaway,               259,300(4)         10.40%
         Director, President

       John H. Alexander,              49,532             1.99%
         Director, Vice President

       Thomas W. Ladd, Director            --                --

       Gary L. Ronning, Director           --                --

       John E. Turco                   70,600(5)          2.83%

       Directors and Officers
         as a Group (6 persons)       379,432            15.21%



-----------

(1)  Title listed refers to the Company unless otherwise stated.

(2)  Amounts reported by directors do not include shares held in name of
     their spouse, children and other relatives.

(3)  As a percentage of the 2,494,430 shares of Common Stock outstanding at
     April 9, 2001.

(4)  Mr. J. Ben Hathaway's children own in the aggregate, 1,600 shares of
     Common Stock.  Mr. Hathaway disclaims any beneficial interest in such
     shares and the shares of the Company's Common Stock owned by the Anna
     A. Hathaway Revocable Trust, see "Principal Holders of Securities."


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(5)  Mr. Turco owns 50% of Corotto Co. which in turn owns 14,500 shares of
     the Company.  Such shares are included in the total shares owned.


                 COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     All Directors of the Company comprise the Audit Committee, which reviews
the Company's financial and accounting organization, financial reporting, and
the reports of the independent auditors.  The Audit Committee held one meeting
during the last fiscal year as the Audit Committee.  All Directors, except Mr.
Hathaway, attended the Audit Committee meeting.

     All Directors of the Company comprise the Nominating Committee, which
recommends prospective directors to fill vacancies that may arise from time to
time and proposes individuals for election to the Company's Board by the
Company's shareholders.  It is the policy of the Board to consider as
potential nominees any persons proposed by any of the Company's shareholders,
provided that such proposal is received in writing sufficiently in advance of
the annual meeting of shareholders to allow the Board to adequately evaluate
the candidate.  The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the last
fiscal year.  All Directors, except Mr. Hathaway, attended the Nominating
Committee meeting.  The Company has no Compensation Committee.


                     ATTENDANCE AND COMPENSATION

     The Board met two times during 2000.  Only non-employee directors receive
payment for service as directors of the Company.  Non-employee directors
receive $300.00 for each Board meeting attended.  All directors, except Mr.
Hathaway, attended both meetings.

                        EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following table sets forth the compensation for the Chief Executive
Officer ("CEO") as indicated below.  No executive officer received over
$100,000 in cash compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.



                                                             Long Term
      Name and                       Annual Compensation    Compensation
 Principal Position      Year        Salary        Other     Options - #
------------------      ----        ------        -----    ------------
                                               
 J. Ben Hathaway        2000      $ 77,700         (1)          -0-
  President and Chief   1999        77,700         (1)          -0-
    Executive Officer   1998        77,700         (1)          -0-

 



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------------

(1)  Personal benefits do not exceed 10% of salary.


                  RETIREMENT AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

     The Company does not maintain a retirement plan for any of its employees.


                   PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     The following table furnishes information as of April 9, 2001, as to all
persons known to the Company to be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
Company's Common Stock.



                                       Number of          Percentage of
                                     Beneficially          Outstanding
    Name and Address                 Owned Shares          Common Stock
    ----------------                 ------------         --------------
                                                    
    The Anna A. Hathaway, TR UA         1,041,635               41.76%
      DTD September 5, 1984(1)
      FBO Northern Trust Bank of
         California NA
        16 Corporate Plaza
        Newport Beach, CA 92660

    J. Ben Hathaway                       259,300                10.40%
        P. O. Box 832
        Bakersfield, CA  93302

    Ronald Zlatniski                      144,927                 5.81%
        731 Prince Rd.
        Greensboro, NC 27455



----------

(1)  Although J. Ben Hathaway, Anna Hathaway's son, and Northern Trust Bank
     of California, N.A. are co-trustees of the trust, under the provisions
     of the trust, the trustees are required to vote the shares in the manner
     directed by Anna Hathaway.  Mrs. Hathaway has the power to veto any sale
     or transfer with respect to such shares.





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                      SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     The Audit Committee has selected Arthur Andersen LLP as independent
public accountants to audit the books, records and accounts of the Company for
the year ending December 31, 2001.  The appointment is being presented to the
shareholders for their ratification. Arthur Andersen LLP has audited the
books, records and accounts of the Company since 1987.  Representatives of
that firm will be present at the meeting. They will have an opportunity to
make statements if they desire and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE SELECTION OF ARTHUR
ANDERSEN LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2001.  PROXIES WILL BE VOTED "FOR" RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION
OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN IN THE PROXIES.


                         FISCAL 2000 AUDIT FEE SUMMARY

     During fiscal 2000, the Company retained its principal auditor, Arthur
Andersen LLP, to provide audit services.  Arthur Andersen LLP billed the
Company an aggregate of $30,000 in fees for professional services rendered in
connection with the audit of the Company's financial statements for the most
recent fiscal year and the reviews of the financial statements included in
each of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000.  Arthur Andersen LLP did not provide any services
related to income tax preparation or financial information systems design and
implementation during 2000.

                         ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS

     Accompanying this Proxy Statement is a copy of the Company's 2000 Annual
Report to Shareholders, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference to this Proxy Statement.


                          SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
              FOR THE 2002 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

     Shareholders wishing to offer a proposal at the next annual meeting for
inclusion in the proxy statement therefore must submit those proposals to the
Company's Secretary no later than December 31, 2001.  Proposals should be
mailed to Lee G. Christianson, Pyramid Oil Company, P.O. Box 832, Bakersfield,
California  93302.

                               OTHER MATTERS

     The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be presented
at the Annual Meeting.  If any other matters should properly come before the
meeting, the Proxy Holders will vote the proxies according to their best
judgment.


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     The Company filed an annual report on Form 10-KSB with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  Shareholders may obtain a copy of this report without
charge, by writing to Lee G. Christianson, Secretary, Pyramid Oil Company,
P.O. Box 832, Bakersfield, California 93302.

     

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------------------                              ---------------------
 Proxy Number                                        Number of Shares

                      PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
                P. O. Box 832-2008, 21st Street
                 Bakersfield, California 93302

                Please Sign and Return Promptly

                                          Date:                  2001
                                               -----------------

                                        ------------------------------
                                        (Signature(s) of Shareholders)







                            Please date and sign exactly as name appears
                            hereon.  When signing as executor, adminis-
                            trator, trustee, guardian, attorney, etc.
                            full title as such should be shown.  If
                            shares are registered in more that one name
                            all registered owners should sign.

THIS PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANYTIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE MEETING

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PROXY

                      PYRAMID OIL COMPANY

  THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned shareholder of Pyramid Oil Company (the "Company") hereby
appoints J. Ben Hathaway and John H. Alexander, and each of them, the true and
lawful attorneys, agents and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and revocation to each of them, for and in the name of the
undersigned to vote all the shares of Common Stock of the Company which the
undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the Company to be held at the Corporate Offices of Pyramid Oil Company, 2008
21st Street, Bakersfield, California 93301, on Thursday, June 7, 2001 at 10:30
A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, and at any adjournment of such meeting, as fully
as the undersigned could do if present in person.  The undersigned hereby
revokes all proxies heretofore given.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, said proxies are authorized to vote:

     (1)  Election of Directors

          / /  FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the
               contrary below.

          / /  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees below.

(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL
NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEES NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)

        J. Ben Hathaway, John H. Alexander, Thomas W. Ladd
                   Gary L. Ronning, John E. Turco

     (2)  To ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as the
          Company's independent auditors for 2001:

               / /FOR         / /AGAINST          / /ABSTAIN

     (3)  Transact any and all other business which may properly come
          before the meeting or any adjournment of such meeting.

EACH PROPERLY SIGNED PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS
MADE THEREON.  IF NO SPECIFICATIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS NAMED ABOVE AND THE RATIFICATION OF
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS NAMED ABOVE.