This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

On July 1, I attended a prescreening of the movie "The Lone Ranger." This was a gala event with Gov. Gary Herbert and many other dignitaries present.

Everyone who spoke ­—­ including Herbert, members of the Utah Film Commission, our state tourism director and even the movie's star, Armie Hammer, via a tourism promotion film — highlighted how the unblighted landscape was instrumental in bringing the film to Utah.

Hammer said it is unique to find landscapes where the telephone poles do not have to be edited out. As one who has long admired and enjoyed Utah's magnificent landscapes, I beseech all who spoke and listened to post the praise on their mirrors and refrigerators so whenever they are asked to promote new ski lifts, new mining, new drilling and new development in pristine areas they are reminded of the economic benefits of not building.

Richard Steiner

Salt Lake City