Sean Penn spotted in Duluth, 83 years ago

The Kansas City Bridge Co. crewman (left) looks an awful lot like Sean Penn (right), who was born in 1960. (Left photo courtesy of Duluth Public Library)

Did you know that Sean Penn was photographed in Duluth sometime between August 1929 and March 1930? Well, it was someone who looked like Sean Penn, not that anybody in Duluth knew who Sean Penn was in 1930.

That’s when a crew from the Kansas City Bridge Co. came to town to convert the transfer bridge over the Duluth ship canal to the Aerial Lift Bridge we still use today. And one of the guys on the crew really did look a lot like Sean Penn. He’s front and center in a photo of the crew posing on the bridge.

The history lovers at Zenith City Online found the photo at the Duluth Public Library and posted it. Check it out there and join the conversation about when and where you would go if you were as good at time-traveling as Sean Penn.

For young filmmakers

Heads up, young Spielbergs.

The folks behind the Reel Youth Film Festival want to see your cinematic creativity.

The festival, a showcase of movies made by young filmmakers, is open to students in grades K-12.

Films must be no longer than 5 minutes. Submissions are due May 17. The films will be critiqued by a panel of jurors and those selected will be screened starting at 6 p.m. June 1 at the Reel Youth Film Festival in the Free Range Film Farm, 909 Carlton County Road 4, Wrenshall.

For more info and an entry form, go to <a href=http://www.cloquet.k12.mn.us target=”new”>cloquet.k12.mn.us</a>.

Zach Braff loves Duluth

Actor Zach Braff voices Finley (right) the flying monkey and James Franco (left) plays Oz in “Oz the Great and Powerful.” (Disney Enterprises / Associated Press)

Well, we don’t really know if the actor loves Duluth, but he has mentioned the city at least twice.

Braff, known for his role as J.D. on the show “Scrubs” and Finley the flying monkey in the box office’s No. 1 movie, “Oz the Great and Powerful,” told Conan O’Brien on Tuesday’s “Conan” that he decided to reward one of his Facebook and Twitter followers with a visit to the winner’s hometown.

Hopefuls submitted videos telling Braff what they’d do with him if they got to hang out with the star. Braff told O’Brien he had expected to get a winning submission from somewhere a little closer to home.

“I thought, like, Duluth, you know, Newark,” the New Jersey native said.

Instead, the winning video came from a group of guys in Vienna, Austria.

Tuesday was the second such reference to Duluth from Braff, who wrote, directed and starred in the 2004 film “Garden State,” which also mentions Duluth.

Zach, consider this your invitation to spend the day in Duluth. We’ll drop nickels off the top of Enger Tower and complain about how there’s nothing to do in town — both Duluth traditions.

DVD and book drive for Marines

When not training to defend our country, the Marines in the basic reconnaissance course at Camp Pendleton, Calif., like to relax by watching movies or reading. To help, 1st Sgt. David Danel is trying to make a library room filled with books and DVDs.

Now it’s time to serve them — in their pursuit of R&R. Find them some new favorites by mailing DVDs and books to 1st Sgt. David Danel; RTC, AIT Bn., SOI West; Box 555101; Camp Pendleton, CA 92055.

Money also can be donated by going to marinerecon0321.com and clicking on the PayPal “Donate” tab. Type “DVD/Book Drive” in the memo field.

To do today: Break into showbiz

This is quick notice, but if you’re in the biz you probably already have your resume and headshot ready.

A production team is casting extras and supporting roles for a short film that will be shooting Dec. 6-10 in Duluth. Auditions for the 15 supporting roles are 5-9 p.m. today on the third floor of the Zeitgeist Arts Building, 222 E. Superior St. Send an e-mail to shortfilmprep@gmail.com in advance. Info: renegadetheatercompany.org/blog.

No auditions necessary for the extras spots, including people who look like dive bar regulars and people who look like vegan café regulars. Send a headshot and contact info to shortfilmprep@gmail.com with the subject line: Duluth extras.

Get spooked at the Duluth library

The Duluth Public Library will celebrate Halloween with a series of scary movies. And no; it’s not Adam Sandler’s recent body of work — we’re talking about actual scary movies.

All movies will be shown in the Main Library’s Green Room. The films and showtimes are:

  • Noon Saturday: “Dark Shadows,” 113 minutes, rated PG-13.
  • 3:30 p.m. Saturday: “Trick ’r Treat,” 82 minutes, rated R. Please bring photo ID; children younger than 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • 6 p.m. Monday: “A Cabin in the Woods,” 82 minutes, rated R. Please bring photo ID; children younger than 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • 3:30 p.m. Wednesday: “Snow White and the Huntsman,” 127 minutes, rated PG-13.For more information, call the library’s fiction and media desk at(218) 730-4200, option 6.

Roll to reel for Harbor City Roller Dames

Three skaters push one another out of the way to gain a lead during roller derby action at Pioneer Hall in this March, 20, 2010, file photo. From left are Fargo’s Maulflower and Harbor City Roller Dames Devilmama and Red Malicious. (2010 file / News Tribune)

The local roller derby team is taking fans away from the flat track and into the theater, where they are hosting the first Minnesota screening of the documentary “Derby, Baby: A Story of Love, Addiction and Rink Rash” narrated by Juliette Lewis — star of the movie “Whip It.”

The screening is at 7 p.m. Thursday at Zinema 2, and tickets are $10. There will be a Q&A with members of the Harbor City Roller Dames after the show.

“Derby, Baby” is a look at the fast-growing sport and the dramas and friendships.