User:DanHartal/sandbox

Dan Hartal is an avid Elvis Historian, has traveled on a bizarre odyssey to trace Elvis's roots since the early 70's. He's also a bonified musician and an Elvis impersonator a.k.a Schmelvis and he's been singing for years in old age homes and for kids. Despite the white jump suit and long sideburns, Schmelvis -aka Dan Hartal- is no mere Elvis impersonator. "I consider myself a tribute artist," says the Canadian Jewish singer and an Elvis historian.

Inspired by a 1998 Wall Street Journal article exposing 'Elvis was Jewish.' Judaism is determined by matrilineal descent, and Elvis’ great-grandmother, Martha Tackett, was Jewish, as was her daughter, and her daughter’s daughter, who was Elvis mother, Gladys Love Smith. If this is the case, then The King's improbable lineage according to Torah law states that Gladys herself is a Jew and if so, then Elvis is Jewish too. According to Larry Geller: Elvis's close friend and spiritual advisor, Elvis confided that he was Jewish. His mother Gladys did not disclose the fact to Vernon Presley as the South was very anti-semitic in those days. However, she wanted Elvis to go to a school that had mainly Jewish children, wanting him to mix with Jews and hopefully get a better education as she knew Jews were very concerned about education for their children. Many of Elvis' school friends were Jewish and remained friends when he became famous, such as George Klein, Marty Lacker and Alan Fortas.

Dan Hartal a.k.a Schmelvis headed to Graceland to discover the truth for himself, a journey that was captured on film which he played lead role. The film was a world wide festival hit 'documentary'entitled Schmelvis: Searching for the King's Jewish Roots (Nodance, HBO Comedy Arts Fest). The film is about a camp Jewish character called Schmelvis created by a Montreal Hasidic Jew named Dan Hartal. His costume comprises a rhinestone-studded white jumpsuit with a large Star of David wresting-style belt-buckle and a red star-covered cape. Dan Hartal interviews Sam Phillips, The film was produced by E. Beloff & directed by Max Wallace & co-written Jonathan Goldstein.