EXHIBIT 25.1

THIS CONFORMING PAPER FORMAT DOCUMENT IS BEING SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO RULE 901(d)
OF REGULATION S-T

==============================================================================
                                       FORM T-1

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549

                               STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                      UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                       CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                         CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                         ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                           SECTION 305(b)(2)           |__|

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

                                 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                 (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

New York                                                   13-5160382
(State of incorporation                                    (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                               identification no.)

48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                             10286
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip code)

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

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

Massachusetts                                              04-2053130
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                             identification no.)

1855 Boston Road
Wilbraham, Massachusetts                                        01095
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip code)

                                ______________________

                        FRIENDLY'S RESTAURANTS FRANCHISE, INC.
                 (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                   51-0296446
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                             identification no.)

1855 Boston Road
Wilbraham, Massachusetts                                        01095
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip code)

                                ______________________

                               % Senior Notes due 2007
                         (Title of the indenture securities)
===============================================================================



1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

    (A)  NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH
         IT IS SUBJECT.
         
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Name                                        Address
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Superintendent of Banks of the State of      2 Rector Street, New York,
    New York                                     N.Y.  10006, and Albany, N.Y.
                                                 12203

    Federal Reserve Bank of New York             33 Liberty Plaza, New York,
                                                 N.Y.  10045

    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation        Washington, D.C.  20429

    New York Clearing House Association          New York, New York   10005

    (B)  WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

    Yes.

2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

    IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
    AFFILIATION. 

    None.

16. LIST OF EXHIBITS. 

    EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION, ARE
    INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO RULE
    7A-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17 C.F.R.
    229.10(D).

    1.   A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
         (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the
         authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise
         corporate trust powers.  (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1
         filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to
         Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672 and Exhibit 1
         to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637.)

    4.   A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee.  (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1
         filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)

                                         -2-




    6.   The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. 
         (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
         33-44051.)

    7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
         pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining
         authority.

                                         -3-




                                      SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State
of New York, on the 3rd day of October, 1997.


    THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                       By:     /s/ THOMAS E. TABOR
                                           ---------------------------
                                           Name:  THOMAS E. TABOR
                                           Title: ASSISTANT TREASURER

                                         -4-





                                                                      Exhibit 7

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

                         Consolidated Report of Condition of

                                 THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                       of 48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
                        And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business June 30, 1997,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                        Dollar Amounts
ASSETS                                    in Thousands
Cash and balances due from depos-
  itory institutions:
  Noninterest-bearing balances and
  currency and coin ..................     $ 7,769,502

  Interest-bearing balances ..........       1,472,524
Securities:
  Held-to-maturity securities ........       1,080,234
  Available-for-sale securities ......       3,046,199
Federal funds sold and Securities pur-
chased under agreements to resell......      3,193,800
Loans and lease financing
  receivables:
  Loans and leases, net of unearned
    income .................35,352,045
  LESS: Allowance for loan and
    lease losses ..............625,042
  LESS: Allocated transfer risk
    reserve........................429
    Loans and leases, net of unearned
    income, allowance, and reserve          34,726,574
Assets held in trading accounts ......       1,611,096
Premises and fixed assets (including
  capitalized leases) ................         676,729
Other real estate owned ..............          22,460
Investments in unconsolidated
  subsidiaries and associated
  companies ..........................         209,959
Customers' liability to this bank on
  acceptances outstanding ............       1,357,731
Intangible assets ....................         720,883
Other assets .........................       1,627,267
                                           -----------
Total assets .........................     $57,514,958
                                           -----------
                                           -----------

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
  In domestic offices ................     $26,875,596
  Noninterest-bearing ......11,213,657
  Interest-bearing .........15,661,939
  In foreign offices, Edge and
  Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs ...      16,334,270
  Noninterest-bearing .........596,369
  Interest-bearing .........15,737,901
Federal funds purchased and Securities
  sold under agreements to repurchase.       1,583,157
Demand notes issued to the U.S.
  Treasury ...........................         303,000
Trading liabilities ..................       1,308,173
Other borrowed money:
  With remaining maturity of one year
    or less ..........................       2,383,570
  With remaining maturity of more than
one year through three years..........               0
  With remaining maturity of more than
    three years .........................       20,679
Bank's liability on acceptances exe-
  cuted and outstanding ..............       1,377,244
Subordinated notes and debentures ....       1,018,940
Other liabilities ....................       1,732,792
                                           -----------
Total liabilities ....................      52,937,421
                                           -----------

EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock ........................        1,135,284
Surplus .............................          731,319
Undivided profits and capital
  reserves ..........................        2,721,258
Net unrealized holding gains
  (losses) on available-for-sale
  securities ........................            1,948
Cumulative foreign currency transla-
  tion adjustments ..................      (    12,272)
                                           -----------
Total equity capital ................        4,577,537
                                           -----------
Total liabilities and equity
  capital ...........................      $57,514,958
                                           -----------
                                           -----------


     I, Robert E. Keilman, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

Robert E. Keilman

     We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.

                        \
     Alan R. Griffith    |
     J. Carter Bacot     |
     Thomas A. Renyi     |    Directors
                        /
                                                                            
          ------------------------------------------------------------------