He then produced the first performance of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard in England and in Europe, after which he obliged to leave the theatre for a while when he contracted tuberculosis.
In 1915 he began a new career as a film director utilizing the production techniques and acting skills he had learned in the theatre.
Following a relapse of his illness, he was able to return to the theatre and in the early 1920s spent some time in New York City where he produced a play on Broadway starring John Barrymore.
With Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and others he published Practical Course in Cinema Acting in Ten Complete Lessons in 1920.
In 1925 he opened a sandwich bar in London which soon became a great success with the theatre fraternity and was followed by more "Sandys" to meet the demand.