Loula Tom Williams was a visionary entrepreneur who helped shape the thriving community of Greenwood, known as Black Wall Street.
While many historians highlight male entrepreneurs in Greenwood’s success, Williams carved her own legacy, building the famous Dreamland Theatre—a cornerstone of the community that symbolized Black economic strength and resilience.
A Determined Beginning
Loula and her husband, John Williams, were among the first settlers of Greenwood, relocating from Mississippi to Tulsa in the early 1900s.
When Loula became pregnant, she insisted on giving birth at a Black-serving hospital, prompting a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where their son, William Danforth Williams, was born in 1905.
Even in motherhood, she prioritized Black accessibility to essential services, a value that would later define her career.
While John established Williams’ One Stop Garage, Loula refused to be confined to a traditional housewife role. Using her savings from teaching, she launched The Williams Confectionery in 1909, selling ice cream, popcorn, and sweets.
The shop quickly became a favorite hangout for Greenwood’s youth, highlighting her sharp business instincts.
Loula Williams Builds Dreamland Theatre
Inspired by her confectionery’s success, Loula pursued a larger ambition—entertainment. In 1914, she opened Dreamland Theatre, a 750-seat movie house that also hosted live performances.
Dreamland Theatre provided an affordable cultural outlet for Greenwood residents, selling tickets for just 15 cents.
It strengthened the neighborhood’s identity as a self-sustaining Black community, offering both entertainment and a symbol of economic empowerment. Unlike many women of her time, Loula ensured that Dreamland was entirely in her name.
She independently purchased the land and owned the theater outright, making a bold statement about women’s financial independence. That same year, the Tulsa Star recognized her as “the foremost businesswoman of the state, among Negro women.”
Surviving the Tulsa Race Massacre
On May 31, 1921, Greenwood was thriving—until White mobs stormed the district, attacking Black homes and businesses.
Dreamland Theatre was in the middle of a film screening when news of the attack spread. Patrons fled as chaos erupted, and soon, the theater—like the rest of Greenwood—was reduced to ashes.
Despite the destruction, Loula and John remained resilient. Insurance companies refused to compensate Black business owners, making recovery nearly impossible.
However, the couple’s additional movie theaters in Okmulgee and Muskogee provided financial stability, allowing them to rebuild Dreamland Theatre in 1922. Greenwood ultimately regained its vibrancy in the 1940s and ’50s before its eventual decline.
A Lasting Legacy
Loula Williams passed away in 1927, but her influence endured. Her son, William, became a lifelong educator, and her granddaughter, Anita Williams, became the first Black woman in America to earn a doctorate in optometry.
In 2011, the Smithsonian Museum honored the Williams family’s contributions, ensuring that Loula’s story was no longer forgotten.
Today, Loula Williams is celebrated as a pioneering force behind Black Wall Street, proving that Black women were not only participants in Greenwood’s success but its architects.
