by Ric Erickson

Paris:- Saturday, 28. September 1996:- This has been a big week for old folks. On Friday evening, the private TV channel, TF1, devoted most of its program to Brigitte Bardot. It was about time somebody did this - it was her first time on TV in 23 years - except for occasions in the last few years when she has been spokeswoman for the defense of animals.

Today is her birthday, and she is only 62. Last night I thought she was better than in any part she played - spontaneous, witty and very human. It was sort of a 'This is your life' format with chit chat and film clips of her past companions such as Roger Vadim, Jean Gabin and Serge Gainsbourg.

Appearing 'live' on the show, which was taped last Tuesday, were Sylvie Vartan, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - the only president to give concrete support to Brigitte Bardot's cause - Pierre Salinger, who organised her first U.S. Press conferences, and Lech Walesa, who had missed a date with B.B. on an earlier visit.

She turned her back on the film world in 1973, to found the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for Animals. Only last summer her Foundation ran a billboard campaign in the métro, urging animal owners to take their pets on vacation, rather than abandoning them - and this was reproduced as a poster in Metropole.

This week was also the occasion of the publication of her memoirs, entitled 'Initiales B.B.' - published by Grasset, 560 pages, about 100 francs - and Philips has brought out a 'Best of B.B.' CD containing 20 songs, perhaps including the rare song by Gainsbourg, recorded in London, played on the TV show, also called 'Initiales B.B.'

The two-hour taped TV show was followed by a 75-minute documentary, directed by Allain Bougrain-Dubourg. If you had quit watching this 15 minutes early, you could have seen John Huston's 'The Misfits' in English with subtitles, with Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Cliff, on state TV's A2.

The Vespa Rides Again at 50

Italy had only 150,000 cars in 1946 when the Piaggio Veicoli company manufactured 2,000 new scooters, called Vespa. After that they put a lot of the world on wheels, and I have seen them used as delivery vans and even pickup trucks loaded with sacks of cement - with a chain driving two wheels in the rear.

When the company wanted to change them in 1987 the outcry was so great that the company relented - and today Vespas are being produced again in their original colors with contours more like the original than later models, and the italic-script name-badge has been revived - under the direction of Piaggio chairman, Giovanni Alberto Agnelli.

I don't think I saw Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck riding one in the 1953 movie 'Roman Holiday' but I certainly did see a lot of them in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita.' I tried one myself once in Ibiza, but could not get enough control of it to leave the rental company's parking lot - and left in a rented a Seat 600, which had at least four wheels and occasional brakes.

Delon Hits the Boards, Again

Last Tuesday Alain Delon took to the stage again in Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt's 'Variations Enigmatiques' along with Francis Huster, under the direction of Bernard Murat at the Thêatre Marigny.

Mr. Delon last played in 'Yeux Crevés' in 1968 at the Thêatre du Gymnase - a play whose run was cut short after 22 days on account of the events of that year. Before that he appeared with Romy Schneider in John Ford's 'Domage Qu'elle Soit une P...' which was directed by Luchino Visconti.

The 60 year old actor was quoted as saying that he would go back to the theatre when he found a script that would make him flex his talent. The author, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt copped three Molières for his 'Le Visiteur, ' which translated, has played in 35 countries.

Eddie Barclay Back in the Market, Again

Since I have been in France, Eddie Barclay - of Barclay records fame - 'Ye-Ye' - has gotten divorced three times. Since he first married, on 9. July 1945, the 75 year old Mr. Barclay has gotten divorced seven times and is about to go for eighth, although he is said to be at liberty now.

According to the photos, he wore a tuxedo twice, a dark suit once, a safari jacket without tie, two striped jackets and a tieless doubled-breasted blazer. His looks have not changed much since number six in 1982 and I am not sure what he should wear at his next wedding, which, if he runs to form, will be in about a year.

Post-war Tintin Hits 50 Too

On 26. September 1946, the Brussels publisher Le Lombard brought out the first edition of 'Tintin.' The new publication needed a star and the public needed to know the sequel to the pre-war 'Sept Boules de Cristal,' by Hergé, who was in some trouble with the High Command of the Allies for having worked for a publication during the occupation.

The team at Le Lombard were all ex-resistance and they got Hergé off the Index, but there were still problems with finding a printer - but once one was found the first edition of 40,000 copies sold out in Belgium in three days, with the 'Temple du Soleil' on the cover and the sub-head of 'Le Journal Pour les Jeunes de 7 à 77 Ans.'

For the occasion, Le Lombard has brought out 'Un Demi-Siècle d'Aventures,' volume 1 - 1946-69, with 240 pages.

Not Yet, But Get Ready

Sometime between 10. June and 12. July 1998 the World Cup Football Finals are going to be played in France. Sometime between October and November of this year, the 'Pass France 98' will go on sale to the general public. Single ticket sales will not begin until early 1998. The organizing committee has 2.5 million tickets to sell, but 60 percent are reserved for French residents.

The prices of the 'pass' tickets vary according to the cities in which the matches will be played. In Nantes, for five games in the third category, the price is 725 francs. The 'Saint-Denis 98' pass for the new Paris stadium will be 780 francs for five games including one eighth-final match - in fourth category - and 1,900 francs in first. Since none of this resembles 6 out of 49, I have no idea what any of it means.

The cheapest ticket for Saint-Denis will be 145 francs. For important games, the distribution of tickets will be by lottery - otherwise, it's first come - first served.

For more information, do not ask me. Instead call 33-1 36 68 22 24 and have your plastic's number handy.