-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 FURTPFZKDA7bgkEfxSYWrQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001282520-05-000009.txt : 20050211
<SEC-HEADER>0001282520-05-000009.hdr.sgml : 20050211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050211133913
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001282520-05-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050211

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOAGLAND PAUL V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233094

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13579
		FILM NUMBER:		05596934

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4135432400

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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233094</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOAGLAND PAUL V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1855 BOSTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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>EVP, Administration &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15189</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15189</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15189</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on February 9, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Paul V. Hoagland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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