# David Tallichet

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{{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](/source/Dallas), [Texas](/source/Texas), U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2007|10|31|1922|12|20}}
|death_place=[Orange, California](/source/Orange%2C_California), U.S.
|education=[Sewanee: The University of the South](/source/Sewanee%3A_The_University_of_the_South)<br>[University of Texas at Dallas](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Dallas)<br>[Southern Methodist University](/source/Southern_Methodist_University)
|occupation=Businessman
|known_for=Starting [theme restaurant](/source/theme_restaurant)s
|spouse=Cecilia (divorced)<br>{{marriage|Carol Schmidt|1984}}
|children=4
|relatives=[Margaret Tallichet](/source/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 restaurant](/source/themed_restaurant)s. He also owned scores of classic military aircraft.

==Early life==
Born in [Dallas](/source/Dallas), Texas, Tallichet graduated from the [University of the South](/source/University_of_the_South) in [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee), the [University of Texas at Dallas](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Dallas); he later attended [Southern Methodist University](/source/Southern_Methodist_University) in Texas, but left before completing his English degree.

==US Army Air Forces==
Joining the [United States Army Air Forces](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Forces), he was deployed to Europe during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), initially flying as co-pilot on a [Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress](/source/Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress). His crew became part of the [350th Bombardment Squadron](/source/350th_Bombardment_Squadron), which in February 1945 joined the [100th Bombardment Group](/source/100th_Bombardment_Group), based at [RAF Thorpe Abbotts](/source/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](/source/New_Mexico_Air_National_Guard), flying the [P-51 Mustang](/source/P-51_Mustang). Tallichet remained on active reserve status in the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) until 1957.

==Career==
After he left the Army, Tallichet joined [Hilton Hotels](/source/Hilton_Hotels). In 1955, he was managing the Lafayette Hotel in [Long Beach, California](/source/Long_Beach%2C_California), which hosted a [Miss Universe](/source/Miss_Universe) beauty pageant; he later married the contestant from [Indiana](/source/Indiana).

===Restaurants===
In 1958, Tallichet and [SeaWorld](/source/SeaWorld) founder [George Millay](/source/George_Millay) formed Specialty Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business. Their first location was [Polynesia](/source/Polynesia)n-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](/source/Burbank%2C_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](/source/Los_Angeles_International_Airport) and [94th Aero Squadron](/source/94th_Aero_Squadron_(restaurant)) near [Van Nuys Airport](/source/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](/source/Smithsonian_Institution) [National Air and Space Museum](/source/National_Air_and_Space_Museum) in the early 1960s, he began to buy vintage aircraft. His first purchases were: a [P-51 Mustang](/source/P-51_Mustang) for $13,000; a [B-25 Mitchell](/source/B-25_Mitchell) bomber; a [Korean War](/source/Korean_War) [MiG](/source/Russian_Aircraft_Corporation_MiG) jet; a [P-40 Tomahawk](/source/P-40_Tomahawk); a [B-29 bomber](/source/B-29_bomber); and a [Martin B-26 Marauder](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Memphis_Belle_(film))'', 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](/source/Pearl_Harbor_(film))'' and ''[Collateral Damage](/source/Collateral_Damage_(2002_film))'', 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](/source/Margaret_Tallichet), was married to film director [William Wyler](/source/William_Wyler).

Tallichet died at his home in [Orange, California](/source/Orange%2C_California), of complications from [prostate cancer](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Tallichet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Tallichet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Tallichet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.