‘Slinky’ musical springs to life

Published 6:00 am Friday, December 30, 2016

VALDOSTA — After a decade, Bob Brabham is preparing to see his musical about the children’s toy Slinky spring to life.

The Valdosta resident has shopped the musical based on the creators of the “spring, a spring, a marvelous spring” to theatre producers from South Georgia to New York to Florida.

Come Jan. 13-15, “Slinky: The Musical” is scheduled to have its world premiere with four performances at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., Brabham said. 

He has been patient, staying in Valdosta, away from preparations for the show while his daughter, Becky Brabham, has been working as musical director with the rehearsals in Daytona Beach.

He plans to visit the production about four days prior to opening night. He admits staying away from the production is difficult.

“It’s killing me,” Brabham said. “I’m kind of hands on. I’ve been working on the script and music for 10 years. I don’t want to get in the way.”

While everyone knows it’s Slinky, the musical has not been an easy sell. Not everyone knows the emotional back story of the toy’s creators.

Producers fielding the musical expect a romp about a childhood toy, Brabham said but what they discover is a musical about excess, marital trauma, and overcoming near financial ruin for business success.

The real story behind Slinky, Brabham said, involves the genius of inspiration, a rags-to-riches journey of commitment to an idea, the lure of temptation that success can bring, and a new beginning. 

The Slinky story involves a woman unfamiliar with business who saves the family and the toy empire her husband abandoned.

Brabham knows the Slinky story well.

In the 1960s, he was closely involved with marketing Slinky. 

He produced many of the original commercials and some of the other jingles in Columbia, S.C. 

Brabham did not write the original Slinky jingle, which is used and incorporated in the musical, but he was involved in filming the iconic TV commercials for Slinky and other 1960s-era toys, he said.

Through the years, Brabham, 79, has worked as a portrait artist, art teacher, professional drummer, screenplay writer, commercial and movie producer, etc.

About a decade ago, Brabham started work on the musical following a phone conversation with Tom Cureton.

Cureton was with Barton & Cureton Advertising Agency, the Columbia, S.C., firm that handled the Slinky account. Cureton asked if Brabham would be interested in creating a musical based on the toy and the life of Betty James.

Brabham jumped at the chance. He held several interviews with Cureton and Betty James, whose husband, Dick James, created the Slinky toy.

Dick and Betty James married in 1940, Brabham said. As a naval engineer, Dick James designed springs used on battleships. 

One day, a spring fell from a shelf. Dick James watched the spring walk off the shelf, down a stack of books, and onto a table.

“He watched and wondered what he could do with that,” Brabham said. “He thought it would be a great idea for a toy.”

As time passed, Betty James took over the Slinky business.

Brabham said he believes the musical has the name recognition, the drama and the music to attract audiences.

“Slinky: The Musical” plays 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13; 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Jan. 14; 2 p.m., Jan. 15, The News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach, Fla. Tickets: $20. Reservations, more information: Visit www.slinkythemusical.com. Free Slinky to kids 18 and under.