Film about the origins of the cinema. Dogs playing the piano, contortionists defying the pain limits, and local news "in life size and movement" early fairground cinema was a great attraction and sensation. Besides the variety theatres, it were particularly the travelling cinemas which contributed to the rapid establishment of the cinematograph as a popular medium. With the tongue-in-cheek title, similar to a barkers's yell, "Crazy Cinématographe". Hand-coloured serpentine dances, erotic piquancies and local street scenes evoke the colourful diversity of early short-film programmes. The film "European Cinema of Attractions 1896 1916" shows, in a varied sequence, rarities from the treasure chests of the European film archives ranging from Danish anarchistic slapstick to Scottish X-ray films and a Belgium film showing a hunt. Will Evans, the Musical Eccentric GB 1899, 1' Anarkistens Svigermoder DK 1906, 4' Dansa Serpentina F 1900, 1' Le Roi des Dollars F 1905, 2' L'Homme mystérieuxF 1910, 6' Le Réveil de Chrysis F 1897-99, 1' Premier Prix de violoncelle F 1907, 3' Agoust Family of Jugglers GB 1898, 1' Les Tulipes F 1907, 4' Dr. Macintyre's X-Ray Film GB 1896, 1' Dr. Macintyre's X-Ray Cabinet GB ~ 1909, 1' Bain des dames de la cour F 1904, 1' 13 The Adventures of "Wee Rob Roy" No. 1 GB 1916, 4' Les Kiriki, acrobates japonais F 1907, 3' The Motorist GB 1906, 3' Photographie d'une étoile F 1906, 2' Les Chiens savants F 1907, 5' Horrible Fin d'un concierge F 1903, 2' A Peace of Coal GB 1910, 3' Miss Harry's femme serpent F 1911, 3' Bain de pieds à la moutarde F 1902, 2' Scène pornographique F 1909, 2' L'Amblystome F 1913, 7' Le Barbier fin de siècle F 1896, 1' Lèvres collées F 1906, 2' The Tale of the Ark GB 1909, 6' Facheuse Méprise F 1905, 1' Sculpteur moderne F 1908, 6' Acrobati comici I 1910, 5' Fox terriers et rats F 1902, 1' Saida a enlevé Manneken-Pis B 1913, 7' Au revoir et merci F 1906, 2'