In 1885, Edwin Binney and his cousin C. Harold Smith (above) took control of
the Peekskill Chemical Company and re-named it Binney & Smith. While doing 
experiment with a mixture of slate waste, cement, and talc, Binney created the 
first dustless white chalk. His invention was awarded a gold medal at the St.
Louis World’s Fair in 1904. It was one year later that Benny & Smith
produced the first box of Crayola crayons (shown below).

Advertisement for Crayola from March 1905

(Fox news)__

One of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game is calling it quits.

Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal is retiring. He first announced his retirement on a Twitter video.

"We did it. Nineteen years, baby. I want to thank you very much. I’m about to retire," he said in the video.

Shaq won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat.

Last year, he had a limited role with the Boston Celtics.

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson but baptized and raised as Norma
Jeane Baker, was a actress, singer and model. She began a career as a model,
which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early film appearances were minor, but
her performances in  The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) were well received. Marilyn’s dramatic performance in Bus Stop (1956) was acclaimed by
critics, and she received a Golden Globe nomination. Marilyn also received a
Golden Globe Award for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959).

Marilyn on the cover of the first issue of PLAYBOY, December 1953