UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                   OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 19, 2004


                         FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     Massachusetts                    0-3930                        04-2053130
                                                              (I.R.S. Employer
(State of Incorporation)     (Commission File Number)        Identification No.)

                                1855 Boston Road
                         Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095

    (Address, including zip code of registrant's principal executive offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (413) 543-2400

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)







ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits:
99.1     February 19, 2004 Press Release by Friendly Ice Cream Corporation.
Pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-8216, this press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is being furnished, not filed, under Item 12, Results of
Operations and Financial Condition, to this Report on Form 8-K.




ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On February 19, 2004 Friendly Ice Cream issued a press release describing
selected financial results of the Company for the quarter and the year ended
December 28, 2003, included herewith as exhibit 99.1.







SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                         FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION


                             By:   /s/ PAUL V. HOAGLAND
                                   -----------------------
                             Name: Paul V. Hoagland
                             Title:  Executive Vice President of Administration
                                     and Chief Financial Officer

Date:    February 19, 2004


                                  Exhibit Index

       99.1       February 19, 2004 Press Release by Friendly Ice Cream
                  Corporation