Entrepreneur, actor, and star of his own television and radio shows; James Bartholet exemplifies a De Anza success story. After attending De Anza from 1978-79, where he studied theater, television, and dance, Bartholet moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. From there, he has gone on to star in many plays, including productions of the Civic Light Opera House and the Broadway Touring Company. “My dad used to direct little skits with us (when I was younger),” said Bartholet, explaining some of the acting influence he received growing up. In addition, his mother was a contract star for a big name movie studio during the 1940s.

Bartholet soon moved on to the television circuit, producing and staring in his own public access show, “L.A. Nitelife”, which he created 10 years ago. The show, besides broadcasting in Cupertino and San Jose, shows all over Southern and Northern California, Portland, Chicago, Manhattan, Austin, Dallas, Miami, and throughout Arizona. As “one of the most respected and highly watched shows,” it covers the nightclub scene, an interest of Bartholet since he owns his own nightclub in Southern California called The Goodbar.

The nightlife has always appealed to Bartholet. As a De Anza student, he and his friends would always drive up to San Francisco to enjoy the party and club scene. For this reason, he said he never gets upset with kids who like to go to clubs and dances. “The rave thing is really cool … best thing since disco,” said Bartholet.

Advocating against drug use goes hand in hand for him as both a nightclub owner and affectionado. He has produced public service announcements shown in Southern California that warn of GHB, the rape drug, which is deliberately placed in the drinks of many women at bars by men who plan to rape and harm them. Along with this, he warns people to never drink and drive, nor get high in the clubs. Besides being a show that shows exciting nightclubs and interviews with stars that frequent them, “L.A. Nightlife” allows Bartholet to get on his soapbox every once in a while to advocate sensibility.

The nightclub scene, along with music, concerts, movies, and celebrities, are also covered in his own radio show, “L.A. Nitelife”, which airs on AM 870 KIEV and can be heard on www.kiev870.com in Sacramento, Portland, Phoenix, and all over Southern California. He also writes his own column called “Beyond the Velvet Rope,” which appears on the website, la2nite.com, and in several Los Angeles newspapers.

All this is still not enough for Bartholet, who adds to his resume master of ceremonies at the Hollywood Christmas parade every year, along with host of the Hawaiian Tropic competitions. “I had to do my own thing,” said Bartholet, and he has done that through television, movies, radio, writing, and even nightclubs. Moreover, to think, many of his plans formed while at De Anza College. James Bartholet — another De Anza success story.

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LA Nightlife airs on TCI channel 15 in Cupertino. Check local listings or contact the De Anza TV Center for airtimes.
Check out these websites for more information about James Bartholet:
http://www.lanitelifejames.comandhttp://www.la2nite.comto read his column “Beyond the Velvet Rope”.