Helen Halpin McCarney, Ms New York Senior 2005
takes the National title

In Pictures Below:
She Performs her Talent Competition
Helen Halpin, born in Boston, was raised in Milton, Mass.  The fifth of six children, Helen's love of music, faith and family were forged in a musical, Irish-Catholic environment. She attended Tucker Grammar School, Milton Jr. High School and was graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Roxbury. At St Mary's of the Hills Parish, Helen's father directed the choir and her mother was the soloist.

As a very young woman Helen began appearing in the top local clubs in Boston, such as Blinstrub's. She rose quickly to the top when Barbara Walter's father, Lou, hired Helen to play his club, the Latin Quarter, which at that time was the #1 club in Boston. She won "Chance of a Lifetime", a national talent competition, and was awarded the winning check and a weeks engagement at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. Her career flourished in New York as a promising young entertainer both in comedy and song. She continued to play upscale clubs like the Blue Angel and Bon Soir, working with Harry Belafonte, Eartha Kitt and other stars.

Helen was signed to a long-term contract with NBC. She did a pilot film called "Oops! It's Daisy" and co-starred all season on "The Saturday Night Review", hosted by Hoagy Carmichael. George Gobel, Alan King, Donald O'Connor and other guest stars, made occasional appearances.
Helen was tapped for a Broadway review called, "Catch a Star." John Chapman of the Daily News headlined his review: "Catch A Star" Opens And HELEN HALPIN Stars. She continued with her nightclub engagements such as Dangerfield’s and did several spots on the Ed Sullivan Show.
She also appeared on the Jack Parr and Kate Smith TV shows as well as the Jack Sterling Radio Show. She made TV commercials and continued with local club dates.

After her marriage to fellow Bostonian, Frank McCarney, they lived in Long Island where they raised their three children.  In 1972 their first born and only girl, Maryann, contracted a misdiagnosed Rheumatic fever which led to heart surgery and her tragic death at the early age of 18.
Helen was fabulously successful with her talents in both music and comedy but walked away from her career to raise her family.  She furthered her education by attending Nassau Community College and Post College in Long Island.  Helen and her husband have spent almost 40 summers on Cape Cod where she entertains regularly.  In 1980 she founded Halpin Productions on Long Island performing during the day at the fabulous restaurants like The Swan Club, Miller Ridge Inn and the Coral House, where hundreds of buses of seniors from the 5 boroughs of New York came to dance, dine and see shows.

Winning the 20th Annual Ms. New York Senior America 2005 in April help her fulfill her idea that talent carries with it an obligation to "use or lost it."  Her quest for the Ms Senior America crown 25th Annual Ms Senior America Pageant in Las Vegas, on November 12th 2005 resulted in victory for her and the great State of New York.  Helen hopes to enhances her desire to share her talent by singing and making people laugh.

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Ten Finalists and Delegates at the National 2005 Pageant





Outgoing Queen, Michele Rahn prompts the new National 2005 Queen, Helen Halpin McCarney