Tom,
Have never heard Tallichet got his play money from his wife's family! Never heard of anyone getting warbird collector sized "play money" from their wife! How do I get in on that deal?
Seriously, he was an excellent restarateur, and I went to at least four of them in their heyday. He had the one in Orlando/Herndon Field with a Fokker Triplane outside, The one in Dallas, with the P-47, the one here in Nashville with a C-47 and another in Memphis.
I think he had maybe 15 restaurants, that held 250 or so seats, and the food was excellent and expensive and the place was always packed. He made plenty of money, to speculate on warbird stuff back then.
If anyone has a wife that gives you play money to buy fighters, bombers, avgas, and mistresses please let me know!