Angel on the Airwaves #2... And Happy National Retro Day!

Angel Noire
3 days ago
3 min read

I always look forward to National Retro Day. It's like Christmas for those of us who love all things vintage, retro and nostalgic. It's a chance for us to all get onboard the retro metro and let our retro freak fly! Although to be honest, for some of us nostalgia fans, every day is retro day - as it should be! When aren't we blasting out eighties mad tunes or the club bangers from our teen years. Or adding that touch of vintage to our every day wear. And we can get totally lost in a classic movie that never gets old - no matter how many times we've watched it. Dirty Dancing, anyone?

What's This National Retro Day All About Then?

February 27th is National Retro Day and has been since 2018, when it was founded by Hermelinda A. Aguilar and her son and daughter-in-law Robert and Tina Duran. It's a day when nostalgia addicts celebrate their love for all things retro and vintage with the emphasis on embracing simpler times and avoiding - or at the very least limiting - the distractions of modern day life, and not getting too hung up on likes, followers and hashtags.

How Does Angel Push The Boat Out For National Retro Day?

To be honest, it depends. But you can bet your life old school tunes; classic movies; board games, and watching at least one episode of a TV show from my childhood years will feature.

OK - so really no different to any other day!

I've yet to throw a retro-themed party (definitely plan to) and while we are lucky enough to live just up the road from the local drive-in, they're usually closed at this time of the year for obvious reasons - especially now we're trying to get over a double blizzard with more ice and snow than even Santa has ever seen! However though do have retro movie nights - but we'll have to wait until October!

So while National Retro Day is just another day with a dash of extra retro-ness, last year's was very different and very memorable...

Midnight Mastermind With OJ Borg

As some of you will know that I was invited onto BBC Radio 2's Midnight Mastermind for the first time back in January of last year when I had to quiz the lovely Phil Williams on EastEnders events and storylines from 1995. I didn't make it easy for poor Phil - although he did do well! For reasons I don't quite understand but I'm definitely not complaining, I was invited back onto Midnight Mastermind again the following month but this time with the equally lovely OJ Borg. As I was scheduled to appear on, wait for it, that's right, National Retro Day, I decided that my specialist subject would be that iconic publication from the 1960s Jackie magazine because... how much more retro can you get???

Was OJ a big fan of Jackie magazine?

Did he get all the answers right?

Did he opt for the cash prize or the family car?

To find out - check out my second appearance on Midnight Mastermind. And what an absolute blast that was! Many thanks to Sophie T. for being so sweet in inviting me yet again and inflicting me on the poor unsuspecting public. And also to the fabulous Will B for getting this clip out to me in time for today - and for the two times he had the misfortune to have to put up with me. Oh and many thanks to OJ for being an awesome contestant and for having to deal with a slightly flustered Mastermind host. Magnus Magnusson I was not! Cheers guys.

And happy National Retro Day, everyone!