-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FLUs/WppsBEMQv/7KyOQwq20e+BX2eD6/zfRUAA668P13txMMwwzVTv2FhzEg7K7
 CFDgll6uKLmqNCdOLQzw3Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001282520-05-000026.txt : 20050318
<SEC-HEADER>0001282520-05-000026.hdr.sgml : 20050318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050318142931
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001282520-05-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050302
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050318
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050318

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Green Kenneth D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001309087

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13579
		FILM NUMBER:		05691333

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		413-543-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		1855 BOSTON ROAD
		CITY:			WILBRAHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01095

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000039135
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				042053130
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1855 BOSTON ROAD
		CITY:			WILBRAHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01095
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4135432400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1855 BOSTON ROAD
		CITY:			WILBRAHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01095
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-03-04</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000039135</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>frn</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001309087</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Green Kenneth D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1855 BOSTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILBRAHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01095</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Co. Restaurant Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12.5156</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>296.1784</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Form 4 filed by the reporting person on March 4, 2005 incorrectly reported that the amount of securities beneficially owned by the reporting person following the reported transaction was 285.0555.  This amendment is being filed to correct this information to reflect the fact that the amount of securities beneficially owned by the reporting person following the reported transaction is 296.1784</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory. A. Pastore, under Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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