FOR AULD LANG SYNE, MY DEAR VAN NUYS HIGH ALUMNI MARK SCHOOL'S 85TH YEAR.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - Alumni from Van Nuys High School gathered at their alma mater on Saturday to celebrate the school's 85th anniversary.

More than 1,000 people filled the campus courtyard to see old friends and meet other alums.

``It's really delightful to see these old classmates reminiscing and carrying on about what's happened in the last 30 to 50 years,'' said Bob Rodine, a member of the class of 1957 and treasurer of the school's alumni association.

A time capsule from 1971 was opened at the party that lasted all afternoon. A tie-dye T-shirt, bell bottom jeans and photographs from the graduating class were among the contents.

Graduates and members of their families also looked through dozens of old yearbooks displayed in the library. As friends reunited, the school's jazz band filled the courtyard with tunes.

Kenny France, graduated in 1937, looked around the quad, now filled with patches and grasses, and noticed that the horseshoe pit was gone. France was the champion horseshoe thrower at the school.

Though the 82-year-old France lives nearby, he rarely stops by the school.

``It's changed so much,'' France said. ``You would put your wallet down and someone would return it to you.''

Myra Ellen Andrews Sinclair, a 1953 graduate, traveled from Aurora, Colo., to attend the reunion and show off pictures including her famous classmate Robert Redford. The '53 yearbook mentions Redford as a member of the Cartoon Club.

Sinclair said she was too busy being a bookworm to notice Redford when he was a classmate.

Other famous Van Nuys graduates include Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood and singer Paula Abdul, Rodine said.

As France greeted old classmates, he tried to recognize one who walked up and shook his hand.

``I don't quite remember you,'' France said.

``I remember you, though,'' said the man, introducing himself as much- changed Charles Mitchell.

``I was black-headed then,'' France said. ``We're all getting a little gray now.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1) At a reunion on campus to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Van Nuys High School, alumni look at yearbooks dating back to the 1920s.

(2) Members of the Class of 1940-41 sign in at a Van Nuys High School reunion.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News