Since its ribbon-cutting in 1931, Bridges Auditorium—also known as “Big Bridges,” to distinguish it from Bridges Hall of Music (“Little Bridges”)—has been home to hundreds of concerts, speeches and events. Here’s our unofficial tally of the musicians who’ve performed most frequently at the 2,200-seat venue.*
Ella Fitzgerald performing at Downbeat, New York in 1947 (Dizzy Gillespie looking on). Photo by William Gottlieb.
Six Times:
Singer-songwriter Ben Harper
Five Times:
Folk singer Judy Collins
Folk group the Irish Rovers
Four Times:
Singer-songwriter Johnny Cash
Violinist Isaac Stern
Three Times:
Country singer Willie Nelson
Pianist Arthur Rubinstein
Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald
Pop/standards singer Johnny Mathis
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Other return performers include jazz legends Nat “King” Cole, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, as well as folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Mime Marcel Marceau also performed here six times!
Big Bridges has been the home to 90 performances from Inland Pacific Ballet, 86 performances by the L.A. Philharmonic, and at least 50 Claremont High School commencements.
Others who’ve spoken here: Bono, Amelia Earhart, Winston Churchill and the Dalai Lama.
*based on records taken from the Bridges Auditorium archive, in conjunction with the crowd-sourced concert repository website setlist.fm.