Names on the buses

738 Laura Bayley

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Laura Eugenia Bayley (1862–1938) , was a British actress and filmmaker; born in Ramsgate in 1862 she married the Brighton hypnotist and showman, George Albert Smith in 1888. From her earliest days Laura had been in reviews and performances with her sisters and was performing burlesque shows including at the Brighton Aquarium. After marrying Smith in Ramsgate they moved to Brighton and together they set up one of the country’s earliest film studios in St. Ann’s Well Gardens in the old Pump Room. Laura starred in and contributed creatively to many early films, playing a significant behind-the-scenes role in directing and marketing. She was one of the earliest performers to be seen on film in colour as in 1906-08 she featured in early tests of Kinemacolor. A true innovator, Laura was a key figure in the early British film industry, although much of her work is credited to her husband. She died in 1938 living at Melville Road, Seven Dials.

738 ADL Enviro400 - carried name since delivery in April 2024.