Then he accidentally met theater director A. Arnold who invited him to sing the lead role in the operetta Chocolate Soldier (based on a work by Bernard Shaw, with music by the Pokrass brothers) that was set to open the 1939 summer season in the CDKA park.
The operetta, which played in the park for a month, featured many famous artists including the Alexander Tsfasman Jazz Orchestra, Maria Mironova, etc.
The song, titled "V Parke Chair" ("В парке Чаир"), instantly made "widely known in narrow circles" Pogodin a popular and trendy singer.
In December 1939, he decided to take part in the first All-Russian Variety Artists Contest and became a Laureat along with such singers as Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Keto Dzhaparidze, etc.
Among his songs that were played everywhere were: "V Parke Chair", "Vozvrata Net" ("Возврата нет"), "Ya Zhdu Pisma" ("Я жду письма"), "Oglyanis" ("Оглянись").