{{Short description|American businessman (1922–2007)}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} {{infobox person |name=David Tallichet |birth_name=David Compton Tallichet Jr. |birth_date={{birth date|1922|12|20}} |birth_place=Dallas, Texas, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|2007|10|31|1922|12|20}} |death_place=Orange, California, U.S. |education=Sewanee: The University of the South<br>University of Texas at Dallas<br>Southern Methodist University |occupation=Businessman |known_for=Starting theme restaurants |spouse=Cecilia (divorced)<br>{{marriage|Carol Schmidt|1984}} |children=4 |relatives=Margaret Tallichet (sister) }} '''David Compton Tallichet Jr.''' (December 20, 1922 – October 31, 2007) was an American businessman who started, but did not originate,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.critiki.com/location/trader-vics-oakland-549/|title=Trader Vic's in Oakland, CA|access-date=January 2, 2017|archive-date=January 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171626/https://www.critiki.com/location/trader-vics-oakland-549/|url-status=dead}}</ref> themed restaurants. He also owned scores of classic military aircraft.

==Early life== Born in Dallas, Texas, Tallichet graduated from the University of the South in Tennessee, the University of Texas at Dallas; he later attended Southern Methodist University in Texas, but left before completing his English degree.

==US Army Air Forces== Joining the United States Army Air Forces, he was deployed to Europe during World War II, initially flying as co-pilot on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. His crew became part of the 350th Bombardment Squadron, which in February 1945 joined the 100th Bombardment Group, based at RAF Thorpe Abbotts. He flew more than 20 missions in an aircraft called ''Spirit of Pittwood.'' After the war, Tallichet flew transport aircraft in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0801009 |title=Airport Journals |access-date=21 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025144955/http://airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0801009 |archive-date=25 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After mustering out of active service, he joined the New Mexico Air National Guard, flying the P-51 Mustang. Tallichet remained on active reserve status in the United States Air Force until 1957.

==Career== After he left the Army, Tallichet joined Hilton Hotels. In 1955, he was managing the Lafayette Hotel in Long Beach, California, which hosted a Miss Universe beauty pageant; he later married the contestant from Indiana.

===Restaurants=== In 1958, Tallichet and SeaWorld founder George Millay formed Specialty Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business. Their first location was Polynesian-themed Reef in Long Beach, California;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reefrestaurant.com|title=Home – The Reef Long Beach|website=reefrestaurant.com}}</ref> the second was Castaway in Burbank, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castawayrestaurant.com/burbank|title=burbank – Castaway Restaurant|website=castawayrestaurant.com}}</ref> Ultimately, Tallichet designed, financed, or built more than 100 restaurants across the United States, including the Proud Bird next to Los Angeles International Airport and 94th Aero Squadron near Van Nuys Airport. Many designs were shaped by Tallichet's experience as a military aviator.

===Military Aircraft Restoration Corp=== Inspired by a trip to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the early 1960s, he began to buy vintage aircraft. His first purchases were: a P-51 Mustang for $13,000; a B-25 Mitchell bomber; a Korean War MiG jet; a P-40 Tomahawk; a B-29 bomber; and a Martin B-26 Marauder. Tallichet formed Military Aircraft Restoration Corp., a subsidiary of the restaurant company, to manage his collection. Many of the organization's later aircraft were recovered wrecks from the Pacific Ocean, often around Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylan |first1=Justin |title=Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC) |url=http://pacificwrecks.com/restore/usa/marc.html |website=Pacific Wrecks |access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burrell |first1=Molly |title=Aircraft Museum Growing |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/721068224 |access-date=9 March 2022 |work=Independent Press-Telegram |date=15 April 1973 |page=A-29}}</ref>

On hearing about the proposed production of the movie ''Memphis Belle'', Tallichet offered to fly his own B-17 across the Atlantic Ocean for filming.

At its peak in the mid-1990s, his collection included more than 120 aircraft. He slowly reduced his holdings, and owned around 50 at his death.

The company also made replica classic military aircraft for use as props in films, including ''Pearl Harbor'' and ''Collateral Damage'', and later produced entrance themes for aircraft museums.

==Personal life== Tallichet was married to Cecilia. They lived in Long Beach, then Newport Beach. They had four children: John, Catherine Ann, William (Bill), James and grandchildren Ashley, Catherine, Bryan, and Lauren. They divorced. He married Carol Schmidt in 1984, and they remained married for the remainder of his life. His sister, film actress Margaret Tallichet, was married to film director William Wyler.

Tallichet died at his home in Orange, California, of complications from prostate cancer, at age 84, on October 31, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-11-me-tallichet11-story.html|title=David Tallichet, 84; WWII pilot preserved historic planes|first=Valerie J.|last=Nelson|date=November 11, 2007|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0848171}} *[http://www.specialtyrestaurants.com Specialty Restaurants Corporation]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tallichet, David}} Category:American restaurateurs Category:Sewanee: The University of the South alumni Category:University of Texas at Dallas alumni Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:Methodists from Texas Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in California Category:1922 births Category:2007 deaths Category:Businesspeople from Dallas Category:American hoteliers